In brief
Record rain in Chiba Prefecture has killed eight residents, plunged 20,000 households into darkness and left thousands stranded at Narita Airport. Authorities issued a level‑five emergency warning after rainfall of over 100 mm per hour—three times the August average and the highest ever in Japan. Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai described the situation as "extremely unusual" even by Japan’s weather standards, and rescue work will continue while the storm persists. The disaster comes amid a cluster of typhoons across Asia, underscoring the urgency of resilient infrastructure for extreme weather.
Heavy rainfall in Chiba Prefecture has killed eight people, cut power to 20,000 households and left thousands stranded at Narita Airport.
Authorities have issued a level‑five emergency warning, the highest alert, after the storm produced over 100‑mm of rain per hour—about three times the average August rainfall and the highest in Japan’s history.
Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai said the situation was "extremely unusual" even by Japan’s weather standards, and that rescue operations would continue while the rains are expected to last late Friday.
The incident comes amid a string of storms across Asia, including typhoon Dolphin, which has battered Japan, the Philippines and China in a tight succession.
Narita Airport’s spokesman said flights would operate normally, but passengers were stranded overnight, with many staying in the Chiba Prefectural Government building.
The severe weather has highlighted the risks of an increasingly active typhoon season and the need for resilient infrastructure in the face of extreme rainfall events.
