Record rainfall in Japan has killed six people.

Unprecedented rainfall in Japan has killed six people.

Record-breaking downpours have hit eastern Japan, triggering widespread flooding and landslides. In Chiba Prefecture, bordering Tokyo, six people were killed and five injured.

Local authorities reported the highest rainfall on record in the country, with more than 100 mm of rain falling in the region in a single hour, three times the monthly average for August.

The storm caused significant disruptions to transportation and power supplies. More than 20,000 homes were left without power, major highways were closed, and train service was partially suspended. Around 7,000 passengers spent the night at Narita International Airport due to blocked tracks linking the airport to the capital. Approximately 100,000 families were issued emergency evacuation orders. Chiba Prefectural Governor Toshihito Kumagai described the situation as anomalous, unprecedented in the region's modern meteorological history. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the catastrophic downpours were caused by the collision of warm, moist air with cold fronts.

The severe weather in Japan is part of a series of powerful storms that have battered East Asia in recent days, including the Philippines and China. Although the highest level of emergency in Chiba Prefecture was downgraded on Friday, rescue services remain on high alert due to the ongoing threat of landslides.