Japan Floods: Eight Killed, Thousands Stranded at Narita Airport

At least eight people have died after record-breaking rainfall battered eastern Japan, causing widespread flooding, disrupting transport and leaving thousands of travellers stranded at Narita International Airport.

More than 360 millimetres (14 inches) of rain fell in 24 hours in parts of Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, overwhelming roads, railways and drainage systems. The rainfall surpassed the previous 24-hour record of 309mm set in October 2013.

The Japan Meteorological Agency described the rainfall as an unprecedented event, while Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai said he had never experienced a disaster of this nature despite responding to numerous emergencies in the past.

The eight fatalities included a person who was trapped inside a submerged vehicle, according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK, citing local authorities and police.

The torrential downpour also triggered flooding across parts of Chiba, with major highways closed and several railway services suspended. Soldiers were deployed to assist emergency responders with rescue operations.

At Narita Airport, one of Japan’s busiest international travel hubs, about 7,000 passengers were stranded after transport links to and from the airport were disrupted.

Airport staff distributed sleeping bags, water and snacks to passengers who were forced to spend the night inside terminals. Some travellers reportedly faced lengthy waits for taxis and struggled to find hotel accommodation as demand surged.

The flooding also caused widespread power disruptions. More than 20,000 homes were without electricity after floodwater affected a power substation, while gas supplies to nearly 13,000 households were temporarily interrupted.

In Chiba city, hundreds of residents spent the night at emergency shelters established in government buildings as authorities continued rescue and evacuation efforts.

Although some rail services resumed and most flights at Narita were expected to operate normally on Friday, authorities continued to warn residents about the risk of flooding and further disruption.

The disaster comes during one of Japan’s busiest holiday travel periods, adding to the disruption caused by the extreme weather as authorities assess the full scale of the damage.