Deadly record-breaking rainfall hits Chiba prefecture in Japan

Unprecedented torrential rains struck Japan’s Chiba prefecture, east of Tokyo, beginning on the night of Thursday, August 13, 2026. The extreme weather resulted in the deaths of at least nine people, according to reports from NHK, though initial accounts from local authorities and other sources estimated the toll at four or five, with others initially listed as missing. The victims were primarily found trapped in submerged vehicles or drowned on flooded streets.

Local infrastructure suffered massive disruption, including widespread power outages and paralyzed transport networks, leaving thousands stranded at Narita International Airport. Meteorological data indicated record-breaking rainfall, with over 350 millimeters recorded in parts of Chiba within 24 hours. Weather officials issued the highest level of emergency alerts, citing three major storm systems occurring in rapid succession. This August has now been identified as the wettest month in the prefecture in the last 60 years.

Over 1,000 homes were flooded, and authorities issued numerous landslide warnings during the event. Experts have noted that the intensity of such weather phenomena is becoming more frequent due to human-induced climate change. Current assessments remain ongoing as recovery efforts proceed across the affected regions.