At least five people have died after what Japanese authorities described as an unprecedented spell of heavy rain swept through eastern Japan, flooding communities, disrupting transport and leaving thousands stranded overnight at Narita International Airport.
The torrential rain hit Chiba prefecture late Thursday, triggering landslide warnings, widespread flooding and power outages. Forecasters issued the highest-level heavy rain warning for the region for the first time, before the warnings were downgraded on Friday morning.
Around 6,000 passengers were stranded overnight at Narita airport after severe disruption to rail services. Travellers were forced to sleep across the terminals, with sleeping bags distributed as long queues formed and many train services to and from the airport were suspended.
The Chiba disaster management office confirmed five deaths at a meeting on Friday. Those killed included a man believed to be in his 60s or 70s who was found in floodwater and a 66-year-old woman who became trapped in a submerged vehicle. Other victims included a man found collapsed on a street and another person whose age and gender had not been determined.
Japan’s public broadcaster NHK reported that the death toll could rise to eight as authorities continued assessing the impact of the flooding and extreme weather.
The rain also caused major damage across Chiba. Nearly 26,000 households were without electricity, while more than 80 homes were reported flooded in areas including Ichikawa, Kashiwa and Sakura. Water also entered dozens of other homes below floor level.
Transport services were severely affected, with hundreds of people stranded at Chiba station after train operations were suspended. Roads were also flooded, leaving vehicles abandoned in low-lying areas, while residents were moved into shelters in some communities.
A Japan Meteorological Agency official warned that the rainfall was reaching an “unprecedented level”. The disaster has again raised concerns about the growing impact of extreme weather, with scientists warning that human-driven climate change is contributing to more frequent and intense rainfall events.
