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

Tokyo's Narita airport was inundated with stranded travelers on Friday as a result of record rainfall that caused severe flooding in the surrounding Chiba prefecture. Over 360 millimeters of rain fell in just 24 hours, leading to the disruption of roads and railways and leaving thousands of people without power. Four deaths have been confirmed, including one person trapped in a submerged vehicle and another who is missing.

Soldiers have been deployed to assist in relief efforts, with Governor Toshihito Kumagai of Chiba describing the situation as "extremely unusual." More than 22,000 households were still without electricity at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, according to Tokyo Electric Power. In Chiba city, hundreds of residents sought refuge under foil blankets at government buildings that had been converted into temporary evacuation centers.

The transportation disruption left approximately 7,000 people stranded at Narita, though all flights were scheduled to operate normally on Friday. Japan Airlines hinted at potential delays for some flights, but no cancellations were anticipated at the time. Major highways in Chiba were closed, forcing drivers onto alternate routes and causing heavy traffic, while several rail services remained suspended.

Some trains between Narita and Tokyo resumed operations later in the day, easing congestion at the busy international airport. Overnight, stranded passengers queued for blankets, water bottles, and snacks provided by airport staff, with one American traveler expressing his gratitude for the assistance.