Record-breaking heavy rain has disrupted daily life and transportation across parts of Japan, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at Narita International Airport. Parts of Chiba Prefecture, which borders Tokyo, were hit by intense rainfall over a 24-hour period. The extreme weather triggered widespread flooding, power outages, and major transportation disruptions.
According to Reuters, the heavy rain has left at least four people dead, including one person who was trapped inside a vehicle that became submerged in floodwater. Another person remains missing.
More Than 22,000 Households Without Electricity
The flooding also caused widespread power outages across Chiba. Data from Tokyo Electric Power Company showed that more than 22,000 households were still without electricity as of 11 a.m. local time on Friday, August 14, 2026.
Authorities and emergency crews continued working to respond to the damage as residents in the worst-affected areas faced ongoing disruptions to essential services.
Around 7,000 Passengers Stranded at Narita Airport
The severe weather also caused major disruptions at Narita International Airport, one of Japan’s busiest international travel hubs. Around 7,000 passengers were reportedly stranded at the airport after flooding disrupted roads and public transportation in the surrounding area.
Several major highways in Chiba were closed, forcing motorists to use alternative routes and contributing to severe traffic congestion. Railway services were also affected, making it difficult for passengers to travel between Narita Airport and Tokyo.
Japan Airlines Warns of Flight Delays
Japan Airlines said some flights could experience delays as a result of the extreme weather and transportation disruptions. However, the airline said that no widespread flight cancellations were expected at that point.
Despite flights continuing to operate, passengers faced difficulties reaching the airport or leaving the terminal because of the disruption to roads and train services.
Passengers Sleep Inside Narita Airport
Hundreds of stranded passengers spent Thursday night and the early hours of Friday inside Narita Airport. Airport staff provided passengers with blankets, bottled water, and snacks while they waited for transportation services to resume.
Some travelers were seen resting in different parts of the terminal, with some sleeping on the airport floor as they waited for conditions to improve. One American traveler who was stranded at the airport with his family told NHK:
“We will never forget this trip.”
The situation highlighted the scale of the disruption caused by the record rainfall during one of Japan’s busy travel periods.
Japanese Military Deployed to Affected Areas
Japan’s military was also deployed to areas affected by the flooding to assist with disaster response and relief efforts. Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai described the situation as highly unusual during a news conference on Friday morning.
“I have dealt with many disasters before, but I have never experienced a situation like this,” Kumagai said. Authorities continued to assess the damage and assist residents and travelers affected by the flooding as transportation and power services remained disrupted.
