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TOKYO (AP) — A catastrophic rainfall event that shattered historical records has left at least five people dead and more than 30 injured in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, Japanese authorities confirmed on Friday. The deluge, which began Thursday evening, paralysed urban areas, flooded homes and roads, and trapped thousands of commuters and travellers overnight.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported that unprecedented rain fell in a short span: 1.5 centimeters (4.5 inches) in a single hour in Chiba City, and 9.7 centimeters (3.8 inches) in one hour in Sakura. These levels exceeded the capacity of existing drainage systems, leading to widespread surface flooding. Koji Ikeuchi, a civil engineering professor at the University of Tokyo, told the Nikkei business daily that the massive rainfall likely overwhelmed sewer systems in Chiba’s asphalt-heavy urban zones, causing rapid overflow.
The fatalities included a man found floating on a flooded road in Ichikawa, and a woman who was trapped inside a submerged vehicle in Sakura. Two other victims were presumed dead after being pulled from flooded cars in Kashiwa and Chiba City. One person remains missing as of Friday afternoon. Among the injured, five were reported in serious condition, according to Chiba prefecture officials.
Thousands of people were stranded overnight at the Soga train station, a key local route that also serves Tokyo Disney Resort. The Ground Self-Defense Force dispatched buses to evacuate about 4,000 stranded passengers, completing the operation by Friday afternoon. Hundreds more took shelter at the Chiba prefectural government building. At Narita International Airport, the main gateway for the Tokyo region, train service partially resumed Friday morning with delays, allowing stranded travellers to gradually leave. Flights operated normally, though many were returning home after Japan’s Bon Buddhist holiday week.
As of Friday, approximately 170 homes were flooded, and over 300 people sought refuge at public facilities. In Togane, central Chiba, a landslide blocked a road, complicating rescue efforts. The TEPCO Power Grid reported that power outages had dropped to 18,000 homes from a peak of 68,000 the previous day.
Local authorities warned that more rain was forecast for later Friday, though the JMA had downgraded its most severe heavy-rain warning for more than a dozen municipalities. The risk of additional landslides and flash flooding remains, with ground already saturated.
The disaster highlights the vulnerability of urban infrastructure to extreme weather events, a pattern increasingly linked to climate change. Chiba’s rapid urbanisation, with large areas covered by impermeable surfaces, exacerbated the runoff. Ikeuchi’s analysis underscores the need for upgraded drainage systems and better flood preparedness in Japan’s metropolitan areas.
As rescue and recovery operations continue, officials urge residents to stay alert and avoid flooded roads. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, with economic losses expected to mount.
For ongoing coverage of this disaster and other Asia-Pacific news, follow AP’s reporting at .
