At least eight dead as heavy rains hit Japan
At least eight people have died in eastern Japan after record breaking heavy rain that left thousands stranded overnight and snarled up roads and rail services, authorities said.
Record-breaking heavy rain in eastern Japan has left at least eight people dead and thousands stranded overnight, crippling transport and power services across the region. Chiba authorities and police confirmed that one person perished after being trapped in a submerged vehicle, while public broadcaster NHK cited these reports. Record rainfall left thousands of travelers stuck at Tokyo's Narita airport, flooding surrounding areas and disrupting transport.
Power was cut to over 20,000 homes as rain inundated roads and railways. Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai described the situation as "extremely unusual," noting that he had never encountered such a disaster before. Over 360mm of rain fell in 24 hours in parts of the Chiba area adjoining Tokyo, displacing around 7,000 passengers at Narita airport, who were provided with sleeping bags, water, and snacks.
Major highways and several rail services were affected, causing traffic congestion and requiring drivers to take alternative routes. Weather authorities confirmed that the 367mm of rain in 24 hours in Chiba exceeded the previous record of 309mm set in October 2013.
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