Record rainfall battered eastern Japan, leaving thousands delayed at Tokyo’s Narita Airport and at least eight dead.
Over 20,000 households in Chiba prefecture lost power due to the “unprecedented” rains, according to the authorities.
On Thursday, local authorities issued their highest alert, a level five emergency warning. By Friday morning, this had been decreased to a level four, although the risks of flooding and landslides are still being warned.
In what meteorologists predict to be an exceptionally active typhoon season, a number of storms slammed throughout Japan and neighboring countries this week, causing the deluge.
The most recent flood, according to Japan’s Meteorological Agency, was caused by warm, humid air entering the country’s east and combining with cold air above to create exceptionally unstable atmospheric conditions.
“This case was an extremely unusual situation, even by Japan’s historical weather standards,” Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai told reporters on Friday morning. The rains are predicted to continue until late Friday.
“I have responded to many disasters in the past, but I have never experienced a case like this.”
Since Thursday afternoon, Chiba, which is adjacent to Tokyo, has received more than 100 mm of rain every hour, according to the authorities.
This is the biggest amount of precipitation ever recorded in the nation and over three times the typical amount of August rainfall. Kumagai continued, “Authorities would prioritize saving lives and continue with rescue efforts.”
According to reports from Asahi newspaper, Kyodo news agency, and public broadcaster NHK, at least eight people have perished. According to authorities, one of the fatalities was a woman who perished inside her automobile that was drowned on a flooded road. Two more people died after collapsing on the streets.
The condition was previously referred to as a “unprecedented level of heavy rain” by the Japan Meteorological Agency. Some key roadways are closed on Friday morning, and several train services are still suspended. Due to landslides and power disruptions caused by the rain, over 100,000 families were urged to leave on Thursday.
According to a Narita airport representative, all flights were expected to run as usual on Friday. Japan Airlines, the flag airline, stated that while some of its flights would be delayed, it does not anticipate any cancelations.
While over 1,800 individuals spent the nite at the Chiba Prefectural Government building, passengers were stuck at metro stations. NHK was informed by a woman in Ichikawa, Chiba, that the rain “happened all of a sudden so it was a complete surprise”.
“The power is out so I’m worried whether I can open my business in the next couple of days,” she replied. Citing the possibility of flooding, officials in the Philippines have once again closed government buildings and schools in the majority of the country’s northern regions.
Earlier this week, Dolphin, Chan-Hom, and Peilou, three consecutive storms that churned the region simultaneously, struck China, Japan, and the Philippines.
Dolphin delivered a lot of rain to Okinawa, Japan, which caused trees to fall, planes to be canceled, and tens of thousands of buildings to lose electricity.
Over a million people were evacuated from their homes by Chinese officials over the weekend when Dolphin, the biggest typhoon to hit China this year, made landfall in the east of the nation.
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