About 7,000 people slept inside terminals at Tokyo's Narita International Airport on Thursday, August 13, after floodwaters cut off rail and road links. Emergency workers handed out sleeping bags, water, and food to families at the airport.
Travellers were shocked by the circumstances. One told Japanese broadcaster NHK: "I never thought I'd spend the night at the airport." The passenger added, "We're never going to forget this trip."
Deaths and record rainfall
At least eight people have died in the rains. Over 360mm of rain fell in 24 hours in parts of Chiba.
Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai said the situation was unusual. "This case was an extremely unusual situation, even by Japan’s historical weather standards," the governor said. "I have responded to many disasters in the past, but I have never experienced a case like this."
Cause and aftermath
Weather experts said the disaster was caused by a rare combination of cold air high in the atmosphere, a large supply of warm, moist air, and converging winds over Chiba.
More than 4,000 people spent the night inside JR Soga station after surrounding streets were flooded with water that reached as high as an adult's waist, according to reports. Rail links reopened on Friday morning, but disruptions remained.
