Record rainfall in Japan leaves 8 dead and thousands stranded at airport

The heavy rainfall in Chiba prefecture has inundated transport routes, cut power to thousands and disrupted peak holiday travel near Tokyo.

Published: 5:46pm, 14 Aug 2026Updated: 5:46pm, 14 Aug 2026

Record rainfall left thousands of travellers stranded at Tokyo’s Narita Airport on Friday morning. Flooding in the surrounding area claimed at least eight lives as it disrupted transport and knocked out power to homes. Social media posts showed online footage of passengers stranded at the Japanese capital’s main international airport, where some travellers were forced to spend the night. More than 360mm (14in) of rain fell in 24 hours in parts of Chiba prefecture, east of Tokyo, during one of Japan’s busiest holiday weeks.