Japan Faces 'Unprecedented' Rainfall, Killing Four and Disrupting Transport

Sun Sep 06 2026 02:37:05 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Record April rain in Chiba grips Tokyo, causing four deaths, 20,000 outages, and stranded passengers at Narita Airport.

Massive rainfall in Chiba Prefecture has led to four fatalities and dozens of injuries, shaking power grids and disrupting air traffic. Authorities issued a top-tier emergency warning and are evacuating over 100,000 households amid risks of landslides and floods. Despite the chaos, most flights resume normal operations, though delays persist. The storm comes amid a string of typhoons that have battered Japan, the Philippines and China this week.

Severe Weather Hits Eastern Japan

At least four people have died and five others have been wounded as record rainfall pummels Chiba Prefecture, just west of Tokyo.

Power was cut for more than 20,000 households, and around 7,000 travellers were stranded overnight at Narita International Airport.

Local officials issued a level‑five emergency warning on Thursday, the highest alert, which was downgraded to level four on Friday–yet the danger of landslides and flooding remains.

The storm follows a series of typhoons—Dolphin, Chan‑Hom and Peilou—that swept across Japan, Thailand, the Philippines and China this week, marking an unusually active typhoon season.

Unprecedented Precipitation

Japan Meteorological Agency said the deluge was brought by warm, humid air and cold air above, creating extremely unstable atmospheric conditions. The rain is expected to linger until late Friday.

Governor Toshihito Kumagai described the event as “an extremely unusual situation, even by Japan's historical weather standards.” He added that Chiba recorded over 100mm of rain per hour, roughly triple the August average and the highest volume ever measured in the country.

The authorities continue to prioritise life‑saving measures. Rescuers worked to reach people trapped on flooded roads—one woman drowned in her car, and two others who collapsed on the streets later died.

Rail services remained suspended on Friday morning and several major highways were closed. More than 100,000 households were ordered to evacuate after landslides and power outages were triggered.

Impact on Travel and Commerce

Japan Airlines said some flights may be delayed but no cancellations are expected. Airlines reported that passengers were stranded at metro stations, and about 1,800 people spent the night in the Chiba Prefectural Government building.

A local business owner in Ichikawa city expressed anxiety about the sustained power outage affecting her operations.

Meanwhile, the Philippines shut schools and offices in the north, citing flood threats, while Chinese authorities evacuated over a million residents from east China as Typhoon Dolphin made landfall, causing widespread damage.