Four Dead in Japan as Record Rains Strand Thousands at Narita Airport

At least four people have died and thousands of travelers were stranded overnight at Tokyo's Narita airport after unprecedented rainfall struck Japan's Chiba prefecture on August 14, according to Japanese authorities.

Record 36 Centimeters in 24 Hours

More than 36 centimeters of rain fell within 24 hours in parts of Chiba prefecture, which borders Tokyo. The downpour triggered landslide warnings and caused power outages affecting nearly 25,000 households. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued its highest-level heavy rain warning for the region for the first time in recorded history.

"This case was an extremely unusual situation, even by Japan's historical weather standards," Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai told reporters. "I have responded to many disasters in the past, but I have never experienced a case like this."

Victims Identified

The confirmed fatalities include a man in his 60s or 70s found on a flooded road, a 66-year-old woman discovered in her submerged car, a man of unknown age found collapsed in the street, and a fourth victim whose age and gender were not determined. A fifth person is feared dead and a sixth remains missing. Soldiers were deployed to assist with relief efforts.

Holiday Period Chaos

The storms struck during one of Japan's busiest holiday weeks. Thousands of passengers were stranded overnight at Narita International Airport as road flooding made ground transport impossible. A Japan Meteorological Agency official noted the rainfall was shaping up to be an unprecedented level.