Record-breaking rainfall in Japan caused chaos at Tokyo’s Narita airport as thousands of travelers were stranded due to floods in the surrounding area. The deluge, with over 360 millimetres of rain in 24 hours in parts of Chiba prefecture, disrupted transportation and resulted in power outages affecting 20,000 homes, leading to at least eight fatalities.
Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai described the situation as highly unusual, stating it was unlike anything he had encountered before. Among the casualties was an individual trapped in a submerged vehicle, as reported by Chiba authorities and police.
The airport staff at Narita provided essential supplies such as sleeping bags, water, and snacks to stranded passengers, some of whom had to spend the night at the airport following extensive transport disruptions. Minoru Yamasaki, a Chiba resident returning from vacation, shared his experience of facing long taxi queues and hotel unavailability, forcing him to return to the airport.
While most flights were expected to resume normal operations, more than 20,000 homes were left without power after a power substation was flooded, according to Tokyo Electric Power. Gas supply to nearly 13,000 homes was also temporarily cut off. In Chiba city, hundreds sought shelter in evacuation centers set up in government buildings.
The heavy rainfall led to road closures and power outages, with some major highways in Chiba shut down, causing traffic congestion. Additionally, rail services were temporarily suspended, although some services between Narita and Tokyo resumed to alleviate congestion at the airport.
Weather authorities noted that the 367 millimetres of rain in Chiba within 24 hours broke the previous record set in 2013. The situation in Chiba remains critical, with residents facing challenges due to the aftermath of the severe weather conditions.