At least six people have died and five others were injured after record rainfall triggered flooding and landslides in Chiba prefecture, near Tokyo, Japan.
Gatekeepers News reports that Japan Meteorological Agency described the rainfall as being at an “unprecedented level”, with more than 360 millimetres of rain recorded in parts of Chiba within 24 hours. Some areas also recorded over 100 millimetres of rainfall in a single hour.
The torrential downpour flooded roads and rail lines, disrupted transport services and left thousands of travellers stranded at Narita International Airport.
The airport, one of Japan’s busiest, was cut off after flooding affected surrounding roads and railway services. Reports said about 7,000 travellers were stranded overnight, with airport authorities providing sleeping bags and other assistance as hotel rooms became unavailable.
The heavy rainfall also caused widespread power outages, with tens of thousands of homes affected, while authorities issued evacuation orders and warnings in parts of Chiba and neighbouring Ibaraki prefecture.
Emergency workers, including soldiers, were deployed to assist with rescue operations as authorities warned residents to remain alert to further flooding and landslides.
The severe weather struck during Japan’s Bon holiday period, one of the country’s busiest travel seasons, worsening disruptions to air, road and rail transportation.
The death toll has since varied across reports as rescue operations continued, with later reports putting the number at eight.
