Torrential rain has battered Japan’s Chiba region near Tokyo, leaving at least four people dead and causing widespread flooding, landslides and power outages.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued its highest-level Level 5 heavy rain warning for Chiba for the first time as rainfall reached what officials described as an unprecedented level. The warning was later downgraded, but authorities continued to urge residents to remain alert to flooding and landslides.
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More than 100,000 households were urged to evacuate as floodwaters submerged roads and vehicles, while landslides disrupted communities. Rescue teams and Japan’s Self-Defense Forces were deployed to assist affected residents and support emergency operations.
The extreme weather also caused widespread power cuts and transport disruptions, adding to the difficulties faced by residents across the affected areas.
Authorities have warned that saturated ground and swollen rivers could continue to pose risks even after the heaviest rainfall eases.
The disaster highlights Japan’s vulnerability to increasingly intense rainfall events and the importance of timely evacuation and disaster preparedness in areas prone to flooding and landslides.
