Climate & Environment
Record rain kills at least five in Chiba and strands thousands near Tokyo
Floodwater inundated homes and transport routes east of Tokyo as authorities moved stranded travelers and warned that more rain could follow.
Executive summary
- The toll: At least five people were killed, one remained missing and more than 30 were injured after record rainfall flooded parts of Chiba prefecture east of Tokyo.Associated Press
- The evacuations: Nearly 230,000 residents were advised to seek safer ground, and officials said about 170 homes were flooded.Associated Press
- The disruption: The Ground Self-Defense Force moved about 4,000 people stranded overnight at Soga station, while thousands more were stuck at Narita airport after rail service stopped.Associated Press
- The rainfall: Chiba City recorded 11.5 centimeters of rain in one hour, and Japan's weather agency continued to publish flood and landslide risk information as rain remained in the forecast.Associated PressJapan Meteorological Agency
Record-breaking rain killed at least five people, left one person missing and injured more than 30 in Chiba prefecture, where flooding east of Tokyo inundated roads and homes and stranded thousands of travelers overnight. The Associated Press reported that five of the injured were in serious condition.Associated Press
Nearly 230,000 residents across Chiba were advised to move to safer ground, and local officials said about 170 homes were flooded. Japan's meteorological agency downgraded its most severe heavy-rain warning for more than a dozen Chiba municipalities Friday morning, but its public warning system continued to show flood and landslide risks and the forecast called for additional rain.Associated PressJapan Meteorological Agency
The storm also disrupted two major transport points serving the Tokyo region. Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force dispatched buses for about 4,000 people who spent the night at Soga station, while thousands more were stranded at Narita airport after trains stopped running. Rail service partially resumed Friday morning with delays, and flights continued to operate.Associated Press
Rainfall reached 11.5 centimeters, or about 4.5 inches, in one hour in Chiba City. Sakura recorded 9.7 centimeters in an hour, also a local record. The extreme downpour flooded cars, rail lines and residential areas even after the heaviest rain began to ease.Associated PressJapan Meteorological Agency
Power failures affected about 68,000 homes at the height of the storm, and about 18,000 remained without electricity Friday afternoon. More than 300 people took shelter at public facilities, according to Chiba officials.Associated Press
The casualty and damage figures remain preliminary while local authorities continue searches and assess flooded neighborhoods. Additional rainfall could worsen saturated-ground and river hazards, so the final toll and property losses may change as access improves.Associated PressJapan Meteorological Agency