Japan: Record rains kill eight, strand thousands at Narita airport

At least eight people have died in record rainfall that has swept through eastern Japan, leaving thousands stranded at Tokyo’s Narita Airport. Authorities have described the storms as "unprecedented" and issued a level five emergency warning, which was later downgraded to level four. The deluge, caused by warm, humid air mixing with cold air above, has left Chiba prefecture without power to more than 20,000 households, with rain totals of over 100mm per hour – three times the average for August.

Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai described the situation as "extremely unusual" and vowed to continue rescue efforts. At least eight fatalities have been reported, including a woman who died in her submerged car and two others who collapsed and later died. Major rail services remain suspended, and over 100,000 households were asked to evacuate due to landslides and power outages.

All flights were expected to operate normally on Friday, though some may be delayed. Meanwhile, in the Philippines, schools and government offices remain closed in the north as authorities brace for potential floods following a series of storms, including Dolphin, Chan-Hom, and Peilou.