At least six individuals have died in eastern Japan following record-breaking rainfall that paralyzed transportation networks and left thousands of passengers trapped at Narita Airport. The extreme weather event, which began late Thursday, prompted authorities to issue their highest-level emergency warnings for the Chiba region.
Among the victims identified by the Chiba Prefecture Disaster Management Office were an elderly man discovered in a flooded street and a 66-year-old woman whose car was overtaken by water. Two other individuals were found collapsed in the region, and public broadcaster NHK later confirmed the death toll had risen to six by midday Friday.
The impact of the storm was widespread, with approximately 26,000 households in Chiba experiencing power outages. Residential damage was significant, as dozens of homes across cities like Ichikawa, Kashiwa, and Sakura reported flooding or water intrusion. The Japan Meteorological Agency described the precipitation levels as unprecedented, though emergency alerts were eventually downgraded from level-5 to level-4 on Friday.
Narita Airport, a major transit hub for Tokyo, saw roughly 6,000 travelers stranded overnight. Trains were suspended, and terminals were transformed into makeshift shelters where staff provided supplies like sleeping bags and food. Similar scenes occurred at Chiba station, where many commuters were left unable to travel due to the disruption of rail services. Climate experts have noted that human-induced climate change is contributing to the increasing frequency and intensity of such extreme weather patterns.
