{
  "id": 829243,
  "title": "Thousands stranded at Japan’s Narita airport after record rain kills four",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/thousands-stranded-at-japans-narita-airport-after-record-rain-kills",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-14T02:50:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-08-14-thousands-stranded-at-japan-s-narita-airport-after-record-rain-kills-four/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.\n\nAt 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.\n\nThe 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.",
  "summary": "TOKYO, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Record rainfall left thousands of travellers stranded at Tokyo's Narita airport on Friday morning as flooding in the surrounding area disrupted transport, knocked out power to homes and claimed at least four lives.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Four dead, thousands stranded as ‘unprecedented’ rain hits eastern Japan",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/four-dead-thousands-stranded-as-unprecedented-rain-hits-eastern-japan",
        "published": "2026-08-14T02:28:42.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "RTE News",
        "title": "'Unprecedented' heavy Japan rain kills at least four",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/unprecedented-heavy-japan-rain-kills-at-least-four",
        "published": "2026-08-14T02:31:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Recorder",
        "title": "Thousands stranded at Japan's Narita airport after record rain kills four",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/thousands-stranded-at-japans-narita-airport-after-record-rain-kills-832069",
        "published": "2026-08-14T03:30:49.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}