Record-breaking rains in Japan kill six, trigger mass evacuations
At least six people have died after extremely heavy rains battered Japan's Chiba prefecture and surrounding areas, prompting mass evacuation orders and suspending rail and road services, authorities said on Friday.
The Japan Meteorological Agency described the rainfall as an "unprecedented level of heavy rain", attributing it to warm, humid air flowing into eastern Japan that collided with colder air aloft, creating extremely unstable atmospheric conditions. The rains are expected to continue through late Friday.
Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai told reporters on Friday morning that the situation was "an extremely unusual situation, even by Japan's historical weather standards." He added, "I have responded to many disasters in the past, but I have never experienced a case like this."
Chiba, which lies adjacent to Tokyo, has recorded more than 100 millimetres of rain per hour since Thursday afternoon, according to authorities. This is roughly three times the average August rainfall and the highest hourly precipitation ever recorded in the country.
The deaths were reported by public broadcaster NHK, Kyodo news agency and the Asahi newspaper. Among the victims was a woman who died inside her car on a flooded road, while two others collapsed on streets and later died. Rescue efforts were continuing, with authorities saying they would prioritise saving lives.
More than 100,000 households were asked to evacuate on Thursday after the rain triggered landslides and power outages. Several rail services remained suspended on Friday morning, and major highways were also shut to traffic.
The extreme weather has disrupted daily life and raised concerns about the resilience of infrastructure in the face of such rare events. Chiba Governor Kumagai assured residents that rescue operations would persist and that the government would focus on protecting lives.
Japan is no stranger to heavy seasonal rains, but the intensity of this downpour has surpassed historical norms. Meteorologists point to a combination of moisture-laden air and upper-level cold air as the immediate cause, though no direct link to broader climate patterns has been confirmed in official statements.
Authorities are monitoring further risks of landslides and flooding, and residents in affected areas have been urged to stay alert and follow evacuation advisories. As the rains continue, the full scale of the damage is still being assessed.
