In Japan, a deluge of rain caused chaos at Tokyo’s Narita airport, leaving travelers stranded, disrupting transportation, and claiming eight lives. Chiba prefecture, adjacent to Tokyo, received over 360 millimeters of rainfall within 24 hours, leading to flooded roads and railways during a peak holiday period in Japan.
Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai described the situation as highly unusual, with one person reported dead due to being trapped in a submerged vehicle. The airport staff at Narita provided essential supplies like sleeping bags, water, and snacks to hundreds of stranded passengers who faced significant delays and disruptions.
Despite the challenges, most flights were expected to resume normal operations on Friday. However, over 20,000 homes were left without electricity, and gas supply to nearly 13,000 homes was temporarily cut off due to flooding at a power substation. In Chiba city, hundreds sought refuge in government buildings after road closures and power outages affected daily life.
The heavy rainfall also led to the suspension of several rail services and the closure of major highways in Chiba, causing traffic congestion. Weather authorities reported that the 367 millimeters of rain in Chiba broke the previous record set in 2013. Efforts were underway to restore services and assist those affected by the aftermath of the intense rainfall.
