Record-breaking rainfall in Japan has left thousands of travelers stranded at Tokyo’s Narita airport, causing floods in the surrounding area that disrupted transportation, cut power to 20,000 households, and resulted in eight fatalities. Parts of Chiba prefecture, adjacent to Tokyo, saw over 360 millimeters of rain within 24 hours, leading to road and railway inundation during a peak holiday period in Japan.
Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai described the situation as highly unusual, highlighting the unprecedented nature of the disaster. The casualties included an individual trapped in a submerged vehicle, according to reports from Chiba authorities and police.
At Narita airport, stranded passengers received assistance with sleeping arrangements, water, and snacks as they coped with the chaos caused by the disrupted transportation that left around 7,000 people stranded. Minoru Yamasaki, a 48-year-old resident of Chiba, recounted a four-hour wait for a taxi and the inability of a hotel to accommodate him, leading him back to the airport for refuge.
Despite the challenges, airport officials anticipated that most flights would operate as scheduled on the following day. The torrential rain also caused power outages affecting over 20,000 homes, with gas supply interruptions impacting nearly 13,000 residents. In Chiba city, severely impacted by the weather, hundreds sought shelter in government buildings, while road closures and suspended rail services added to the disruption.
The rainfall in Chiba exceeded previous records, with 367 millimeters surpassing the previous high of 309 millimeters set in October 2013. Recovery efforts were underway as the region dealt with the aftermath of the unprecedented weather event.
