Record-breaking rainfall in Japan led to a chaotic situation at Tokyo’s Narita airport, leaving thousands of travelers stranded and causing widespread disruptions in the surrounding areas. The heavy downpour, totaling over 360 millimeters of rain within 24 hours in Chiba prefecture, resulted in flooded roads and railways during a peak holiday period.
Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai described the event as highly unusual and unprecedented, with the severe weather claiming the lives of eight individuals, including a person trapped in a submerged vehicle. The intense rain also led to power outages affecting 20,000 homes and forced the closure of major highways in the region.
At Narita airport, stranded passengers were provided with essential supplies like sleeping bags, water, and snacks as they coped with the disruption. One traveler, Minoru Yamasaki, shared his ordeal of enduring a four-hour wait for a taxi and being turned away by a fully booked hotel, ultimately returning to the airport for shelter.
Despite the challenges, airport officials anticipated most flights to resume normal operations the following day. The adverse weather conditions also caused temporary suspension of rail services and gas supply interruptions for nearly 13,000 households. Authorities noted that the rainfall in Chiba exceeded previous records, exacerbating the impact of the natural disaster on the region.
