Post by : Badri Ariffin

Record-breaking rainfall in eastern Japan caused widespread flooding in Chiba Prefecture on Friday, leaving eight people dead, disrupting transport services and stranding thousands of travellers at Tokyo's Narita International Airport.

The heavy rain came during one of Japan’s busiest holiday periods. Weather authorities reported that some areas of Chiba, which borders Tokyo, received more than 360 millimetres of rain in just 24 hours. Official figures later showed total rainfall reached 367 mm, exceeding the previous record of 309 mm set in October 2013.

Floodwaters covered roads and railway lines, while soldiers were deployed to assist rescue and relief operations across affected areas.

Governor Calls Event an “Extremely Unusual Situation”

Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai described the disaster as unprecedented.

“This case was an extremely unusual situation,” Kumagai told reporters. “I have responded to many disasters in the past, but I have never experienced a case like this.”

According to public broadcaster NHK, citing local authorities and police, the eight victims included one person who became trapped inside a vehicle submerged by floodwaters.

Thousands Spend the Night at Narita Airport

Transport disruptions created major problems at Narita International Airport, one of Japan’s busiest travel hubs. About 7,000 passengers were stranded on Thursday after rail and road connections were interrupted by flooding.

Airport staff distributed sleeping bags, water and snacks to travellers who were forced to spend the night inside terminals.

Minoru Yamasaki, a 48-year-old resident of Chiba returning from holiday, said he waited four hours for a taxi before trying to book a hotel, only to learn that no rooms were available.

“I queued for a taxi, but the wait was four hours,” Yamasaki said. With nowhere else to stay, he returned to the airport.

An airport spokesperson said that most flights were expected to operate normally on Friday despite the disruptions.

Power and Gas Supplies Affected

Flooding also affected public utilities across the region. Tokyo Electric Power said that more than 20,000 homes lost electricity during the early hours of Friday after a power substation was flooded.

Gas supplies to nearly 13,000 households were also temporarily suspended.

In Chiba city, one of the areas most severely affected, hundreds of residents spent the night in temporary evacuation centres set up inside government buildings, where emergency foil blankets were provided.

Roads and Rail Services Face Major Disruptions

Several major highways in Chiba were closed due to flooding, according to highway operator NEXCO East. Drivers were forced onto alternative routes, leading to heavy traffic congestion.

Rail services were also suspended in several areas. However, some train routes connecting Narita Airport with Tokyo resumed operations on Friday, helping to ease crowding at the airport.

Authorities continue recovery efforts as residents and travellers deal with the impact of one of the most severe rainfall events ever recorded in the region.

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