- Record rainfall in Chiba Prefecture exceeded 100mm per hour, about three times the August average, and the highest ever recorded in Japan.
- Japan's meteorological agency issued a Level 5 Emergency Warning, the highest on its scale, which was later downgraded to Level 4; the Self-Defence Forces were deployed to help stranded people.
- At least four people have died in Chiba Prefecture due to the heavy rain, including a man in his 60s or 70s found floating on a flooded road and a 66-year-old woman stuck in her submerged car.
- More than 23,000 households are without power, mostly in Chiba Prefecture, with additional outages in Ibaraki and Tochigi prefectures.
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed condolences and vowed to remain vigilant, while Chiba Governor Kumagai Toshihito prioritized rescue efforts.
- Japanese authorities described the rainfall as "unprecedented", with Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai stating it was "extremely unusual" even by historical standards.
- A resident in Ichikawa city expressed surprise at the sudden rain and concern about power outages affecting her business.
Historic rainfall in Japan's Chiba prefecture has resulted in at least four fatalities and left around 7,000 people stranded at Narita airport. The region experienced over 100mm of rain per hour, leading to a Level 5 Emergency Warning, the highest on Japan's scale.1234
Authorities confirmed that the victims included a man in his 60s or 70s found floating on a flooded road and a 66-year-old woman trapped in her submerged car. Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai described the deluge as “unprecedented”, stating, “I have never experienced a case like this.” The heavy rain has also caused power outages affecting more than 23,000 households, primarily in Chiba, with additional outages reported in Ibaraki and Tochigi prefectures.7
The torrential rain disrupted transport services, stranding thousands at Narita airport overnight. An airport spokesperson indicated that while flights were expected to operate normally on Friday, some delays were anticipated. An American traveler stranded at the airport remarked, “We are never going to forget this trip.”
In response to the crisis, the Self-Defence Forces were deployed to assist with rescue operations, and authorities continue to urge residents to remain vigilant against potential landslides and flooding. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed condolences to the victims' families and emphasized the need for vigilance against increasing weather-related disasters.56
“The deluge, described as "unprecedented" by authorities, dumped over 100mm of rain per hour—three times the August average—and cut power to more than 23,000 households. Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai called it "extremely unusual even by Japan's historical weather standards," while Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi offered condolences and vowed to remain vigilant.”
BBC
