Japan battered by record rainfall: eight dead as tens of thousands lose power

Japan’s east coast has been hit by unprecedented levels of rainfall, leaving at least eight people dead and causing widespread disruption across the region. The severe storms have knocked out electricity to more than 20,000 homes in Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo, whilst also stranding thousands of travellers at Narita International Airport, one of the country’s busiest aviation hubs.

The exceptional weather system has brought extreme conditions to eastern Japan, with meteorologists describing the rainfall as being without precedent in recent records. The storms have forced the closure or severe disruption of transport links, with Narita Airport experiencing significant delays and cancellations as passengers were unable to depart or arrive as scheduled.

Emergency services have been deployed across the affected areas to assist residents and search for those missing. The power cuts have left communities without electricity for heating, refrigeration and essential services, with authorities warning that conditions could worsen as the weather system continues to move across the region. Local governments have opened emergency shelters for those displaced by the storms and flooding.

Source: Maariv — Original article in Hebrew.