Torrential rain in Japan leaves 8 dead. Narita Airport in chaos: 7,000 people stranded
In Chiba, located east of Tokyo, 348 millimetres of rain fell in 12 hours – three times the amount normally recorded for the whole of August.
The death toll from the torrential rain currently affecting the Japanese prefecture of Chiba has risen to eight. This was reported by the broadcaster NHK, citing local authorities.
Heavy rain and flooding have been reported since yesterday afternoon in Chiba Prefecture, located east of Tokyo. In some areas, rainfall has reached 100 millimetres per hour. In particular, in the city of the same name, 348 millimetres of rain fell in 12 hours – three times the amount normally recorded for the whole of August.
Meanwhile, more than 7,000 people were stranded overnight at Narita, one of Tokyo’s two main airports, after numerous trains to and from the airport were cancelled until this afternoon. On social media, some passengers reported that airport staff had distributed water, food and sleeping bags.
Among the victims is a woman who died inside her car, which was submerged in water.
The rainfall, described by the authorities as “unprecedented”, has caused power cuts in over 20,000 homes.
