Six people have died in Japan following unprecedented heavy rainfall that has deluged parts of the country, particularly Chiba prefecture east of Tokyo. The downpour, described by the Japan Meteorological Agency as an "extremely unusual situation" and an "unprecedented level of heavy rain," has led to landslides, power outages, and significant travel disruptions.
Chiba prefecture recorded more than 100 millimeters of rain per hour since Thursday afternoon, an amount Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai stated was the highest volume of precipitation ever recorded in the country and approximately three times the average August rainfall. This extreme weather event was caused by warm, humid air flowing into Japan's east, which combined with cooler air above to create highly unstable atmospheric conditions.
Authorities reported that at least six fatalities have been confirmed. Among the victims was a woman who died after her car submerged on a flooded road, and two others who collapsed and died on the streets. Rescue efforts are ongoing, with a priority placed on saving lives.
The intense rainfall has had a widespread impact on infrastructure and daily life. Over 100,000 households were advised to evacuate on Thursday due to the risks of landslides and power failures. More than 20,000 households experienced power outages. Travel has also been severely affected, with numerous rail services suspended and major highways closed. Tokyo's Narita International Airport was particularly impacted, leaving approximately 7,000 people stranded.
The Japan Meteorological Agency indicated that the heavy rains were expected to continue through Friday.