At least four people have died and five others were injured as record‑setting rain pummeled Chiba, east of Tokyo, last week. The deluge, called ‘unprecedented’ by local authorities, flooded streets, forced the evacuation of more than 100,000 households, and left thousands stranded overnight at Narita International Airport.
On Thursday, a level‑five emergency warning—Japan’s highest alert—was issued for Chiba, signalling a serious threat of landslides and flooding. The warning was downgraded to level four by Friday, yet officials continue to warn that conditions could deteriorate at any moment.
The weather circus began earlier this week when a succession of tropical cyclones—Dolphin, Chan‑Hom, and Peilou—tore through Japan, the Philippines and China. Meteorologists say the latest storm was sparked by warm, moist air flowing eastward into Japan’s atmosphere, which then collided with cold upper‑level air, creating an environment of extreme instability. This unusual configuration produced rainfall rates more than three times the August average, breaking the country’s historical record.
Governor Toshihito Kumagai of Chiba declared the event “an extremely unusual situation, even by Japan’s weather standards,” and pledged continued rescue operations and life‑saving efforts.
Tremendous power outages crippled the region, with more than 20,000 households losing electricity. Rail services and several major highways were suspended to manage the risk of landslides and flooding. Even the airport’s runways were temporarily shut, forcing many flights to be delayed or rerouted. Airline Japan Air Lines confirmed that most flights should return to normal operations by Friday, though some minor delays would persist.
The rains, which are expected to linger through the Friday night, threaten a further wave of flooding and landslides. Residents in affected areas are advised to stay vigilant, and authorities continue to watch high‑volume rainfall as an indicator of potential future disasters.
