At least six people have lost their lives and five others have been wounded as record-breaking rainfall struck the Chiba prefecture in eastern Japan. Authorities have characterized the weather event as unprecedented, noting that it has triggered significant infrastructure failure, including power outages for more than 20,000 households and the overnight stranding of 7,000 travelers at Tokyo's Narita Airport.
Local officials issued a level five emergency warning on Thursday, the highest possible alert level. While the warning was downgraded to level four by Friday morning, authorities continue to caution residents regarding the ongoing risks of landslides and flooding.
Japan's Meteorological Agency said the most recent deluge was brought by warm, humid air flowing into the country's east that combined with cold air above to make atmospheric conditions extremely unstable.
Chiba, located adjacent to Tokyo, has recorded over 100mm of rain per hour since Thursday afternoon, a volume roughly three times the monthly average for August and the highest ever documented in the nation.
Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai described the situation as exceptionally unusual by Japan’s historical weather standards. During a briefing on Friday morning, the governor emphasized that despite his experience responding to numerous previous disasters, he had never encountered a situation of this magnitude. He stated that rescue efforts remain the top priority for local authorities.
The casualties were confirmed by reports from the public broadcaster NHK, the Kyodo news agency, and the Asahi newspaper. Among the victims, one woman died after her vehicle was submerged on a flooded road, while two other individuals collapsed on the streets and subsequently passed away.
In response to the weather, more than 100,000 households were advised to evacuate on Thursday due to the threat of landslides.
Transportation remains heavily affected, with several rail services suspended and major highways closed as of Friday morning. However, a spokesperson for Narita Airport indicated that all flights are scheduled to operate normally on Friday. Japan Airlines noted that while some flight delays are possible, no cancellations are anticipated.
Many passengers were forced to stay at metro stations overnight, and approximately 1,800 people took shelter at the Chiba Prefectural Government building.
This severe weather follows a week of storms hitting Japan and neighboring countries, including the Philippines and China. The Japan Meteorological Agency earlier described the situation as an "unprecedented level of heavy rain." Earlier, storms named Dolphin, Chan-Hom, and Peilou impacted the region.
Typhoon Dolphin previously caused significant damage in Okinawa and led to the evacuation of over a million people in eastern China.
Meanwhile, in the northern Philippines, authorities have closed schools and government offices due to persistent flood threats. "The power is out so I'm worried whether I can open my business in the next couple of days," she said.
Cars were left abandoned in the streets of Oamishirasato, in Chiba
A woman in Chiba's Ichikawa city told NHK the rain "happened all of a sudden so it was a complete surprise".
