Record rainfall in Japan has caused significant disruptions, stranding thousands of travelers at Tokyo’s Narita airport and leading to floods in the surrounding Chiba prefecture. The extreme weather conditions resulted in power outages affecting over 20,000 homes and claimed the lives of eight individuals.
Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai described the situation as highly unusual, emphasizing the severity of the crisis. Among the fatalities was an individual trapped in a submerged vehicle, according to reports from Chiba authorities and police.
At Narita airport, where about 7,000 people were previously stranded due to transportation disruptions, airport staff provided essential supplies such as sleeping bags, water, and snacks to the affected passengers. Many travelers, like 48-year-old Minoru Yamasaki, faced challenges finding accommodations, with some forced to spend the night at the airport.
Despite the chaos caused by the inclement weather, airport officials expected most flights to operate as scheduled on Friday. However, the region continued to grapple with power outages and road closures, affecting thousands of households and disrupting transportation networks.
In response to the crisis, hundreds of residents in Chiba city sought refuge in makeshift evacuation centers set up in government buildings. The heavy rainfall also led to the closure of major highways in the area, diverting traffic and causing congestion.
Although some rail services were suspended, limited services between Narita and Tokyo resumed to alleviate the situation. The unprecedented 24-hour rainfall of 367 millimeters in Chiba surpassed the previous record set in 2013, exacerbating the challenges faced by the affected communities.