Record rainfall strands 7,000 at Narita, four dead in Chiba
Bastillepost · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago1 MIN
Summary
Record rainfall exceeding 360mm in 24 hours has devastated Japan's Chiba prefecture, killing four people and leaving nearly 25,000 households without power. Around 7,000 travelers were stranded at Narita airport overnight as flooding disrupted transport, with staff distributing water, food and sleeping bags to affected passengers. All flights are expected to operate normally on Friday with possible minor delays.
Key Points
- Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai described the rainfall as an unprecedented weather event, unlike anything experienced in his disaster response career
- Soldiers have been deployed to assist with relief operations as four deaths have been confirmed, with a fifth feared dead and a sixth still missing
- The victims include a man in his 60s-70s found floating on a flooded road and a 66-year-old woman trapped in her submerged car
- Some areas received 120mm of rainfall in just one hour, with total 24-hour rainfall exceeding 360mm across Chiba
- Evacuation shelters have been opened in multiple areas as landslides and river flooding pose ongoing risks
Why It Matters
This disaster struck during one of Japan's busiest holiday weeks, exposing the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to extreme weather events. The incident serves as a stark reminder for travelers to prepare for unexpected disruptions, including booking flexible tickets and carrying essential supplies.
This disaster struck during one of Japan's busiest holiday weeks, exposing the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to extreme weather events. The incident serves as a stark reminder for travelers to prepare for unexpected disruptions, including booking flexible tickets and carrying essential supplies.