At least five people have died in eastern Japan after torrential rains caused widespread flooding, landslide warnings and power outages, leaving nearly 7,000 passengers stranded at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport.
The heavy rains struck Chiba prefecture, east of Tokyo, on Thursday night, with authorities issuing evacuation orders for more than 400,000 people across Chiba and other affected areas. Thousands of residents were forced to seek shelter in government buildings as conditions deteriorated.
Authorities recorded up to 115 millimetres of rain in a single hour, an amount roughly equivalent to the region’s average rainfall for the entire month of August. The exceptional rainfall overwhelmed drainage systems and increased the risk of landslides in several areas.
About 45,000 homes were left without electricity as emergency crews responded to the effects of the storm. Transport services were also disrupted, with travellers at Narita airport among those affected by the extreme weather.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued its highest-level warning for heavy rain and landslides in Chiba for the first time, highlighting the severity of the situation. Residents in vulnerable areas were urged to remain alert and follow evacuation instructions as authorities continued rescue and recovery operations.
Heavy rain floods a street in Japan as residents navigate waterlogged roads amid torrential downpours.
