Unprecedented rainfall in Japan caused significant disruptions at Tokyo’s Narita airport, leaving thousands of travelers stranded on Friday. The heavy downpour led to flooding in the surrounding Chiba prefecture, resulting in transportation interruptions, power outages affecting 20,000 households, and claiming eight lives.
Parts of Chiba prefecture experienced a deluge of over 360 millimeters of rain within a 24-hour period, leading to the inundation of roads and railways during a peak holiday season in Japan. Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai described the situation as highly unusual, emphasizing the severity of the disaster.
Tragically, among the fatalities was an individual trapped in a submerged vehicle, as reported by local authorities. At Narita airport, stranded passengers were provided with essentials such as sleeping bags, water, and snacks, with approximately 7,000 individuals left stranded due to transportation disruptions.
One affected traveler, Minoru Yamasaki, recounted his ordeal of enduring long waits for services, including a four-hour queue for a taxi and difficulty finding accommodation. Despite the chaos, airport officials anticipated most flights to operate as scheduled on Friday.
The torrential rainfall also led to over 20,000 homes losing power, with a flooded power substation affecting electricity supply. Gas services for nearly 13,000 residences were temporarily disrupted. In Chiba city, severely impacted by the calamity, hundreds sought refuge in government buildings, huddling under foil blankets in makeshift evacuation centers.
The situation prompted the closure of major highways in Chiba, redirecting traffic flow and causing congestion on alternative routes. Additionally, several rail services were suspended, though some trains between Narita and Tokyo resumed to alleviate congestion at the airport.
Meteorological authorities noted that the recorded 367 millimeters of rainfall in Chiba within a day exceeded the previous record set in 2013. This extreme weather event underscored the challenges faced by residents and authorities in managing the aftermath of the unprecedented rainfall.
[Image: People stranded by heavy rain rest at Narita International Airport in Narita, Japan, on Friday. (Tom Bateman/Reuters)]
[Image: A local resident stands in a flooded area after heavy rain in Oamishirasato on Friday. (Issei Kato/Reuters)]
