Record rainfall has brought devastation to eastern Japan, claiming the lives of at least eight people and leaving thousands stranded at Tokyo's Narita Airport.
The deluge, described by authorities as 'unprecedented', has cut power to over 20,000 households in Chiba prefecture and prompted a level five emergency warning, the highest alert level.
'This case was an extremely unusual situation, even by Japan's historical weather standards,' said Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai.
The heavy rainfall, which is expected to continue through late Friday, has been attributed to the combination of warm, humid air flowing into the country's east and cold air above, creating extremely unstable atmospheric conditions.
Chiba has logged over 100mm of rain per hour since Thursday afternoon, exceeding three times the average rainfall in August and marking the highest volume of precipitation ever recorded in the country.
Among the victims was a woman who died inside her submerged car on a flooded road, while two others collapsed on the streets and later succumbed to their injuries.
Rescue efforts are ongoing, with authorities prioritizing the saving of lives. Several rail services and major highways remain suspended, and over 100,000 households have been asked to evacuate due to the risk of landslides and power outages.
Thousands of passengers were stranded overnight at Narita Airport, but flights are scheduled to operate normally on Friday. The storm has also disrupted transportation and daily life, with many businesses facing uncertainty over the coming days.