Eight dead, thousands stranded at Narita Airport as heavy rain pounds Tokyo
A record downpour has caused chaos in Tokyo, Japan, with thousands of travellers stranded overnight at Narita Airport and at least four people dead. Tens of thousands of homes lost power as the heavy rain flooded roads and rail lines across Chiba Prefecture.
More than 360mm of rain fell in 24 hours in parts of Chiba, east of Tokyo, flooding roads and railway lines during one of Japan’s busiest holiday weeks. The disaster left thousands of travellers stranded at Narita Airport, one of the country’s major international gateways.
A spokesman for the airport said around 7,000 people were stranded, according to Reuters. Japan Airlines warned of possible delays but said it did not expect any cancellations. Some rail services remained suspended Friday morning, but some trains between Narita and Tokyo have resumed.
#news #breaking Japan is flooded right now due to intense rain also known as #guerrillarain "guerrilla rainstorm" (gerira gō'u) is a Japanese term for a sudden, highly localized, and intense downpour (often exceeding 100 mm per hour) caused by rapidly developing cumulonimbus… pic.twitter.com/UkLvd66beL
— John REPORTS (@JohnsamReports) August 13, 2026
Major highways in Chiba were also shut, forcing drivers onto alternative routes and creating heavy traffic around the airport. Passengers queued overnight for blankets, water and snacks before bedding down inside the terminal.
Read more: Over 1mn evacuated as Typhoon Dolphin hits eastern China
Eight dead as Chiba reels from flooding
Authorities confirmed eight deaths, including one person trapped in a submerged vehicle and another who remains missing. Soldiers were sent to the area to assist with relief efforts.
More than 22,000 households remained without power late Friday morning, and hundreds of Chiba City residents spent the night in temporary shelters set up inside government buildings.
Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai described the rainfall as an «extremely unusual situation,» saying he had dealt with many disasters but had never seen anything like it.
From economics and politics to business, technology and culture, Kursiv Uzbekistan brings you key news and in-depth analysis from Uzbekistan and around the world. To stay up to date and get the latest stories in real time, follow our Telegram channel.
