Thousands stranded at Japan’s Narita airport after record rain kills four

Tokyo's Narita airport faced a major disruption on Friday morning due to record-breaking rain, leaving thousands of travelers stranded and causing widespread damage. In Chiba prefecture, adjacent to the capital, an astounding 360 millimeters of rain fell within 24 hours, leading to flooded roads and railways and the loss of power for nearly 25,000 households.

At least four lives were claimed as a result of the severe weather, with victims including a person trapped in a submerged vehicle. Responding to the unprecedented situation, Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai admitted that he had never encountered a disaster of such magnitude during his tenure.

The disruption at Narita airport left around 7,000 people stranded as all flights were expected to operate normally on Friday. However, major highways in the region remained closed, forcing drivers to take alternative routes and causing heavy traffic. Rail services were also impacted, with some trains connecting Narita to Tokyo temporarily suspended, though others had resumed operations by the morning of Friday.