Record-breaking rainfall in Japan caused chaos at Tokyo’s Narita airport on Friday, stranding thousands of travelers. The deluge led to floods in the surrounding Chiba prefecture, disrupting transportation, cutting power to 20,000 homes, and claiming eight lives.
Over 360 millimeters of rain fell within 24 hours in parts of Chiba, causing roads and railways to be submerged during a peak holiday period. Chiba Gov. Toshihito Kumagai described the situation as unprecedented in his experience of handling disasters.
The fatalities included a person trapped in a submerged vehicle, as reported by Chiba authorities and police. At Narita airport, staff provided essential supplies to stranded passengers, with some forced to spend the night at the airport due to transport disruptions affecting around 7,000 individuals.
One affected traveler, Minoru Yamasaki, shared his ordeal of enduring a four-hour wait for a taxi and being turned away by a fully booked hotel, ending up back at the airport. Despite the upheaval, airport officials anticipated most flights to operate normally the following day.
The torrential rain resulted in power outages for over 20,000 homes due to flooding at a power substation, with gas supply interruptions for nearly 13,000 residents. In Chiba city, hundreds sought refuge in evacuation centers set up in government facilities.
The severe weather forced the closure of major highways in Chiba, diverting traffic onto alternative routes and causing congestion. Some rail services were suspended, but connectivity between Narita and Tokyo began to resume, alleviating pressure on the transport network.
Meteorological authorities noted that the 367 millimeters of rainfall in Chiba over 24 hours surpassed the previous record set in 2013. The images of flooded areas and stranded residents depicted the extent of the devastation caused by the unprecedented rainfall event.
