Japan Hit by Record Rainfall, at Least Six Dead and Thousands of Travelers Stranded at Narita

Record-breaking rainfall in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, Japan, has killed at least six people and injured five others.

Authorities described the situation as “unprecedented,” as severe weather caused flooding, landslides and power outages. More than 20,000 households were left without electricity, while transport disruptions forced around 7,000 travelers to spend the night stranded at Narita International Airport, according to the BBC.

Japanese authorities issued the highest-level emergency alert on Thursday before lowering it to level four on Friday morning. Despite this, flood and landslide warnings remain in effect.

More than 360 millimeters of rain was recorded in some parts of Chiba within 24 hours. The huge volume of water flooded roads and railway lines.

A woman died after her car was swept away on a flooded road. Two other victims collapsed in the street and later died.

Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai said the situation was extremely unusual, even compared with the weather conditions Japan typically experiences.

He said that although he had dealt with many disasters before, he had never experienced a situation like this.

The impact of the rainfall has also been widely felt across the transport network. Several train lines remain out of service, while a number of major highways have been closed.

Transport disruptions left around 7,000 passengers stranded overnight at Narita Airport. Airport staff provided them with food, water and blankets.

According to an airport statement, flights scheduled for Friday are expected to operate normally. However, Japan Airlines has said there may be delays.

The situation has also forced thousands of people to seek temporary shelter. Hundreds of evacuated residents spent the night in several government buildings in Chiba.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the unusual rainfall was caused by warm, moist air meeting cold air masses over the eastern part of the country. This interaction created extremely unstable atmospheric conditions.

Forecasts indicate that heavy rain will continue until late Friday. Meanwhile, rescue teams and emergency services are continuing operations in the areas that have suffered the most severe damage.