Record-breaking and unprecedented rainfall has pounded eastern Japan, specifically Chiba prefecture, triggering the highest-level rain warning for the first time. The torrential rains, which hit Thursday night, saw hourly rainfall of 115mm, an amount typically recorded for the entire month of August.
At least four deaths have been confirmed, including one individual trapped in a submerged vehicle. The weather caused widespread flooding of roads and homes and triggered landslides. Consequently, evacuation orders were issued for more than 400,000 people in Chiba and surrounding areas, with over 100,000 households urged to evacuate and thousands seeking refuge in government buildings.
The storms paralyzed traffic and caused significant power outages, affecting approximately 45,000 homes. Meanwhile, thousands of travelers were left stranded at Tokyo's Narita airport after major train and bus routes into central Tokyo were cut off. Nearly 7,000 passengers remained stranded at the airport as flooding risks remain high despite rainfall easing.