Record rainfall in Japan caused major disruptions at Tokyo’s Narita airport, leaving thousands of travelers stranded on Friday. The heavy rain led to floods in the surrounding area, impacting transport services, cutting off power to 20,000 homes, and resulting in eight fatalities.
Chiba prefecture, adjacent to Tokyo, experienced over 360 millimeters of rainfall within a 24-hour period, causing road and railway closures during a peak holiday season in Japan. Chiba Gov. Toshihito Kumagai described the situation as highly unusual and unprecedented in his experience of handling disasters.
Among the eight casualties reported, one person was found trapped in a submerged vehicle, as confirmed by Chiba authorities and police. Narita airport staff provided essential supplies such as sleeping bags, water, and snacks to stranded passengers, many of whom had to spend the night at the airport due to transport disruptions affecting around 7,000 individuals.
Power outages affected more than 20,000 households after a power substation was flooded by the rain, with Tokyo Electric Power reporting the situation. Gas supply to nearly 13,000 homes was also temporarily disrupted. In Chiba city, severely impacted by the rainfall, hundreds sought shelter in government buildings, facing the night under foil blankets.
The heavy rain led to the closure of major highways in Chiba, diverting traffic onto alternative routes and causing congestion. Additionally, rail services were suspended, although some trains from Narita to Tokyo resumed operations, easing the strain on the airport.
Weather authorities highlighted that the recorded 367 millimeters of rainfall in Chiba surpassed the previous record set in October 2013. The situation in Japan following the intense rainfall is being closely monitored for further developments.