Summary

  • Eastern Japan's Chiba region, which neighbours Tokyo, has been pummelled by torrential rain, with at least four people dead, five injured and one missing

  • More than 100,000 households have been urged to evacuate after the severe weather triggered landslides and power outages

  • For the first time in Chiba, Japan's weather authority last night issued a level 5 warning, its highest alert level, before downgrading to level 4 this morning

  • A Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) official told a news conference "this is shaping up to be an unprecedented level of heavy rain"

  • Footage from Japan's public broadcaster NHK showed cars submerged in floodwaters

Live Reporting

Edited by Gavin Butler, with reporting from Kurumi Mori in Tokyo

  1. Thousands stranded as rain disrupts transportation

    Around 7,000 people were left stranded overnight at Narita, one of Tokyo's two main airports, as the rain cut transport services linking to the airport on Thursday.

    All flights are scheduled to operate normally on Friday, an airport spokesperson says. National flag carrier Japan Airlines says some of its flights may be delayed but it does not expect any cancellations.

    "We are never going to forget this trip," an American traveller stranded with his family at the airport tells NHK.

    Several rail services remain suspended on Friday morning while some major highways are also shut.

  2. In pictures: Cars submerged as thousands stay in shelters

    Thousands of people spent the night at railway stations, makeshift shelters and Tokyo's Narita airport as torrential rain pummelled eastern Japan.

    Here are some scenes from the ground.

    An aerial view of flooded areas after heavy rain in Oamishirasato, ChibaReuters

    Cars were left abandoned in the streets of Oamishirasato, in Chiba

    Stranded passengers sit on the floor at Chiba Metro StationGetty Images

    Stranded passengers sit on the floor at Chiba Metro Station

    People stay at a makeshift evacuation centre set up at the Chiba prefectural government officeReuters

    People stay at a makeshift evacuation centre at the Chiba prefectural government office

    People walk on a flooded road after torrential rain in ChibaReuters

    People wade through flooded streets in Chiba

  3. Emergency warning downgraded, authorities continue to warn of landslide and flooding risks

    Stranded passengers rest on the floor at the shopping mall at Chiba Metro Station in ChibaGetty Images

    The deluge on Thursday prompted Japan's meteorological agency to issue a Level 5 Emergency Warning, the highest on its scale.

    This was downgraded to Level 4 by Friday morning, but authorities have continued to urge residents to stay alert for landslides, floods and swollen rivers.

    The Self-Defence Forces were deployed this morning to help transport people stranded at railway stations.

    About 1,800 people also spent the night at Chiba Prefectural Government building.

  4. Chiba governor describes rain as 'extremely unusual'

    Japanese authorities have described the deluge as “unprecedented”.

    “This case was an extremely unusual situation, even by Japan's historical weather standards,” Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai told reporters on Friday morning.

    “I have responded to many disasters in the past, but I have never experienced a case like this.”

    "We will prioritise saving lives and keep carrying out rescue and recovery efforts," he added.

    A woman in Chiba's Ichikawa city told NHK 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 said.

  5. Four dead as record rain soaks eastern Japan

    A man rides his bike along a flooded road near Chiba metro station in ChibaGetty Images

    Record rainfall in Japan’s Chiba prefecture has killed four people and left thousands stranded overnight at Tokyo’s Narita airport.

    The prefecture, which sits right next to the capital city of Tokyo, has recorded more than 100mm of rain per hour since Thursday afternoon, authorities say.

    This is about three times the average rainfall in August, and the highest volume of precipitation ever recorded in the country.

    The deluge halted rail, bus and taxi services, and cut off power to more than 20,000 households in Chiba.

    We’ll bring you the latest updates as we get them – stay with us.