Record-breaking rainfall in Japan caused chaos at Tokyo’s Narita airport, leaving thousands of travelers stranded and disrupting transportation systems. The heavy downpour, with over 360 millimeters of rain in 24 hours in Chiba prefecture, led to flooding that affected roads and railways. The extreme weather conditions also resulted in power outages affecting 20,000 homes and claimed the lives of eight individuals.
Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai described the situation as highly unusual, stating that despite past disaster responses, this event was unprecedented. Among the casualties was a person trapped in a submerged vehicle, as reported by Chiba authorities and police.
At Narita airport, staff provided essential supplies such as sleeping bags, water, and snacks to stranded passengers, many of whom had spent the night at the airport due to transport disruptions. One traveler, Minoru Yamasaki, recounted a four-hour wait for a taxi and the inability of a hotel to accommodate him, leading him back to the airport.
Despite the challenges, airport officials anticipated most flights to operate normally the following day. The torrential rainfall also caused power outages affecting thousands of homes, with gas supplies to nearly 13,000 residences temporarily disrupted. In Chiba city, hundreds sought refuge in makeshift evacuation centers, and major highways were closed, diverting traffic to alternative routes.
Weather authorities noted that the 367 millimeters of rain in Chiba set a new record, surpassing the previous high of 309 millimeters in 2013. While rail services were temporarily suspended, some routes from Narita to Tokyo resumed, alleviating congestion at the airport.