At least four people died after torrential rain hit Chiba prefecture, east of Tokyo, on Thursday night, while approximately 7,000 passengers spent the night stranded at Tokyo’s Narita airport.
Authorities issued evacuation orders for more than 400,000 people in Chiba and other areas as flooding and landslide risks remained high on Friday, even after the rain eased.
Record rainfall caused deaths and widespread disruption
Rainfall reached 115mm an hour—about the amount normally recorded throughout August—triggering Japan’s first level 5 heavy-rain and landslide warning for Chiba prefecture. About 45,000 homes lost power, and thousands of people sought shelter in government buildings.
A man believed to be in his 60s or 70s was found dead in a flooded road in Ichikawa City. A 66-year-old woman died after her car became trapped in floodwater in Sakura City. Two other people were reported to have died after being unable to escape their vehicles.
Related coverage: Magnitude 6.8 Earthquake Hits Kumamoto Prefecture, Triggering Fires and Structural Collapses.
Travelers and residents took refuge
Around 1,700 people sought shelter at the Chiba prefectural government building, while passengers remained overnight at Narita, one of the main international airports serving Tokyo.
Japan’s Self-Defense Forces dispatched soldiers to the affected area to assist with relief efforts. Chiba governor Toshihito Kumagai described the flooding as an extremely unusual situation and said he had not experienced a disaster like it before.
Authorities warn that flooding remains dangerous
Kazuhito Shimamoto of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism urged residents near rivers with already-high flood risks to protect their lives and follow evacuation advisories from local municipalities.
More context: Strong Earthquake Hits Kumamoto Prefecture, Trapping People and Causing Widespread Damage.
Officials also warned that the risk could increase further along some rivers. Residents were told to check local evacuation guidance and leave early where necessary. Meteorologists in Japan said climate breakdown is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.
Also read: Seoul prepares for unprecedented heat warning as temperatures soar.
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