Eastern Japan has been hit by record rainfall, which authorities have described as “unprecedented.” Flooding, landslides and power outages have caused the deaths of at least eight people.
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Among the hardest-hit areas is Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo. More than 100 millimeters of rain fell in the region within an hour, the highest amount ever recorded there and approximately three times the average rainfall for the month of August.
Japanese media report that the death toll has reached at least eight. One of the victims was a woman who died in her vehicle after it was engulfed by floodwaters. Two other people collapsed in the street and later died.
More than 20,000 households were left without electricity because of the severe weather. Meanwhile, more than 100,000 households were ordered to evacuate their homes as residential areas faced the threat of flooding and landslides.
Toshihito Kumagai, the governor of Chiba, said the situation was highly unusual, even by the standards of extreme weather events in Japan.
The impact was also strongly felt across the transport sector. Thousands of travelers spent the night stranded at Tokyo’s Narita Airport and other transport hubs, while train services were suspended and several major highways were closed.
Authorities have identified rescue operations as their top priority. At the same time, they stressed that the risk of flooding and landslides remains high.
Forecasts indicate that the rainfall will continue into late Friday. Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant due to the possibility of flooding and landslides.
