Nine people have died after torrential rain battered eastern Japan, NHK reported on Sunday, with more than 1,000 households flooded and roads and rail services disrupted. The rain also caused power outages, landslide warnings and damage to homes in Chiba prefecture.
The downpours began late on Thursday. A weather station in Chiba recorded 300mm of rain in 24 hours, making it the prefecture’s wettest August in six decades, while forecasters issued the region’s highest-level heavy rain warning for the first time.
Deaths and damage in Chiba
Chiba’s disaster management office listed eight deaths as of Saturday evening, including people trapped inside submerged cars and others found on flooded streets. NHK’s own tally had risen to nine by Sunday morning.
More than 70 houses across the prefecture were partially destroyed. More than 1,000 households reported flooding, including nearly 600 where water rose above floor level. An estimated 1,200 cars remained abandoned on roads, with authorities working to tow or move them.
Related coverage: Four dead after unprecedented rain hits eastern Japan.
Rainfall overwhelmed transport and services
By Friday morning, Chiba city had received more than three times the rainfall normally recorded across the entire month of August, according to Japan’s land ministry.
The extreme weather snarled roads and rail services and caused power outages. Landslide warnings were also issued as the heavy rain continued.
What happens next
Authorities are clearing abandoned vehicles and responding to flood damage while the effects of the rain continue. A Japan Meteorological Agency official said on Thursday that the rainfall was developing into an “unprecedented” level of heavy rain.
More context: Two killed after powerful quake strikes eastern Indonesia.
Scientists say human-driven climate change is making extreme weather more frequent, prolonged and intense.
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