Record Chiba rains strand thousands at Narita, kill four
Record rainfall in Chiba, Japan, stranded 7,000 at Narita airport, killed four, and cut power to 25,000 homes.
A record-breaking downpour in Japan's Chiba prefecture has left around 7,000 travellers stranded at Narita airport, as flooding disrupted road and rail links and claimed at least four lives.
The area received more than 360 millimetres of rain in a single 24-hour period, inundating streets and railway lines and cutting electricity to nearly 25,000 households. The extreme weather struck during one of Japan's busiest holiday weeks, compounding the disruption.
Authorities confirmed four deaths so far, including at least one person found trapped inside a submerged vehicle. Military personnel have been deployed to assist with relief and rescue operations.
Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai described the event as "extremely unusual, even by Japan's historical weather standards," adding that he had never witnessed a situation like it in his career.
At Narita airport, a spokesperson said all flights were scheduled to operate normally on Thursday, though Japan Airlines warned of possible delays. No cancellations were currently expected.
Major highways linking the airport with central Tokyo remained closed, forcing motorists onto alternate routes and creating heavy congestion, according to highway operator NEXCO East. Several rail services were still suspended on Thursday morning, though some trains connecting Narita to Tokyo had resumed.