Authorities urge continued caution after heavy rain in Chiba leaves eight dead

Authorities urged residents of Chiba Prefecture to remain alert for landslides and flooding Friday even after emergency warnings were downgraded, as record-breaking rain left at least eight people dead and disrupted transport and power supply across the region.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) lowered its Level 5 emergency heavy rain warning for 22 municipalities in Chiba, as well as emergency landslide warning for six cities, early Friday after the most intense rainfall eased.

Level 5, the highest of JMA’s five-tier warning system, calls for people to take immediate measures to save their lives. Level 4 urges people to evacuate from dangerous places.

Still, unstable atmospheric conditions are forecast to persist across the Kanto region as well as the neighboring Nagano and Yamanashi prefectures through early Saturday, raising the risk of more heavy rain. As much as 150 millimeters of rain is forecast for southern Kanto in the 24 hours through 6 a.m. Saturday, with 120 mm possible in northern Kanto and 80 mm in Nagano and Yamanashi.

Eight people were confirmed dead in the cities of Ichikawa, Sakura and Yachiyo, according to NHK, including a 66-year-old woman who drowned after being trapped inside a car on a flooded street.

Flooded roads in Oamishirasato on Friday morning | SAKURA HOTEL OAMI / VIA JIJI

Passengers line up to enter the train station at Narita Airport in Chiba Prefecture on Friday. Thousands were stranded overnight at the airport after train and bus services were suspended. | AFP-JIJI

Rain battered Chiba from Thursday evening, with bands of intense rain clouds repeatedly forming over the prefecture. The city of Chiba’s Chuo Ward received 367 mm of rain in the 12 hours through 9:40 a.m. Friday. This is three times the amount of the city’s rainfall in a month.

The deluge caused widespread disruption across the prefecture. The Self-Defense Forces started transporting about 4,000 people stranded at JR Soga Station to a temporary shelter at the Chiba Prefectural Cultural Hall after the Chiba governor requested its support..

Approximately 7,000 passengers had been stranded overnight at Narita Airport after train and bus services were suspended. On Friday, they were making long lines at the train station as services gradually resumed.

East Japan Railway canceled or reduced services on several lines Friday morning, and delays were also reported on other lines. Road closures were reported after landslides as well, according to expressway operator Nexco.

About 20,000 households in Chiba, Ibaraki and Tochigi prefectures were without electricity at 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Officials are continuing to urge residents to watch out for landslides, overflowing rivers and flooding in low-lying areas.

A car is seen partially submerged in a flooded parking lot after heavy rain in Oamishirasato on Friday. | REUTERS

A pedestrian walks through a flooded street on Thursday night amid heavy rain in the city of Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture. | JIJI