Record-breaking rainfall in Japan caused significant disruptions, with thousands of travelers stranded at Tokyo’s Narita airport. The floods in the surrounding Chiba prefecture led to transportation chaos, power outages affecting 20,000 homes, and claimed eight lives.
Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai described the situation as highly unusual, emphasizing the severity of the disaster. The fatalities included an individual trapped in a submerged vehicle, as reported by NHK.
At Narita airport, stranded passengers received assistance with sleeping arrangements, water, and snacks. The travel disruptions left around 7,000 individuals stranded, leading to widespread confusion and delays.
Despite the challenges, airport officials anticipated most flights to operate as scheduled on Friday. However, power outages affected over 20,000 residences, and gas supplies to nearly 13,000 homes were temporarily disrupted due to flooding at a power substation.
In Chiba city, where the impact was particularly severe, hundreds sought refuge in evacuation centers set up in government buildings. Road closures and suspended rail services added to the transportation woes, although some trains between Narita and Tokyo resumed operations to alleviate congestion.
The heavy rainfall in Chiba, surpassing previous records, reached 367 millimeters within a 24-hour period, exceeding the previous record set in 2013. The extreme weather conditions left the region grappling with significant challenges, with residents and authorities working to manage the aftermath.