- Unprecedented heavy rain in Japan has caused at least four deaths and stranded thousands at Narita airport.
- As of Friday noon, the death toll has risen to six, according to NHK.
- Close to 26,000 households in Chiba prefecture are without power, with 45 houses flooded and 39 more experiencing water seepage.
- At Narita airport, passengers are sleeping in the terminal with sleeping bags, while staff distribute free water and food.
Unprecedented heavy rain in eastern Japan has resulted in at least six fatalities and left approximately 6,000 passengers stranded at Narita airport. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) described the rainfall as "shaping up to be an unprecedented level of heavy rain."1
The torrential downpours, which began late Thursday, triggered landslide warnings and widespread power outages, affecting nearly 26,000 households across Chiba prefecture. The Chiba Prefecture Disaster Management Office reported that the deceased included a man in his 60s or 70s found floating in a flooded road and a 66-year-old woman trapped in her submerged car.
As the rain continued, 45 houses flooded in cities like Ichikawa, Kashiwa, and Sakura, while another 39 homes experienced water seeping in below the floorboards. At Narita airport, passengers were forced to sleep on the terminal floor, with sleeping bags piled up and long lines forming for check-in. Social media users reported that airport staff distributed free water, food, and sleeping bags to those stranded.
Authorities have issued the highest-level heavy rain warning for the Chiba region for the first time, highlighting the severity of this weather event.
“NHK reported two additional deaths by Friday noon, raising the toll to six. In Chiba prefecture, 45 homes flooded in Ichikawa, Kashiwa, and Sakura, while airport staff handed out free water, food, and sleeping bags to stranded passengers.”
