A deluge of rain in Japan caused chaos at Tokyo’s Narita airport, stranding numerous travelers and leading to floods in the surrounding area. The downpour, totaling over 360 millimeters in 24 hours in Chiba prefecture, adjacent to Tokyo, resulted in road and rail closures during a peak holiday period in Japan.
Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai described the situation as highly unusual, with the heavy rainfall causing widespread disruption. Tragically, the severe weather claimed eight lives, including one individual trapped in a submerged vehicle.
At Narita airport, where around 7,000 people were left stranded due to transportation disruptions, staff provided essentials like sleeping bags, water, and snacks to the affected passengers. The situation led to significant inconvenience, with long taxi queues and delays in finding accommodation for stranded travelers.
Despite the challenges, airport officials anticipated most flights to resume normal operations the following day. Meanwhile, power outages affected over 20,000 homes, and gas supply to nearly 13,000 residences was briefly interrupted due to the flooding of a power substation.
In Chiba city, hundreds sought refuge in makeshift evacuation centers set up in government buildings, while major highways in the region were closed, diverting traffic onto alternative routes. The heavy rainfall also prompted the suspension of several rail services, although limited services from Narita to Tokyo were gradually restored to alleviate congestion at the airport.
Meteorological authorities reported a record-breaking 367 millimeters of rain in Chiba, surpassing the previous high of 309 millimeters recorded in 2013. The unprecedented weather event left communities grappling with the aftermath, highlighting the vulnerability to extreme weather conditions in the region.