Kathmandu— At least four people have died and thousands of travelers are stranded in Japan’s Chiba prefecture, east of Tokyo, following record rainfall that began on Thursday and continued into Friday. The heavy precipitation, exceeding 360mm in some areas within 24 hours, caused widespread flooding of roads and rail lines during the Bon Buddhist holiday week—a peak travel period in Japan. Emergency services have deployed soldiers to assist with relief efforts as more than 22,000 homes remain without power and hundreds of thousands are under evacuation advisories.

Devastating Rainfall and Casualties

Areas within Chiba prefecture experienced unprecedented rainfall totals, leading to significant disruption and loss of life. Among the confirmed fatalities were a man in his 60s or 70s discovered on a flooded road and a 66-year-old woman found trapped inside her submerged vehicle, according to the Chiba Prefecture Disaster Management Office. Authorities also reported the deaths of a man of unknown age who collapsed on the street, and another person whose gender and age remain undetermined. One individual is feared dead, while another remains unaccounted for.

Emergency Response and Evacuations

The Japanese government has mobilized its Self-Defense Forces to aid in rescue and relief operations. Soldiers were dispatched to assist those affected by the flooding, with a focus on evacuating stranded individuals from transportation hubs. The Ground Self-Defence Force reported successfully evacuating approximately 4,000 people from Soga train station after they had been stuck for hours due to flooded rail lines. More than 230,000 residents have been advised to seek shelter as conditions deteriorated.

Travel Disruption and Infrastructure Damage

The record rainfall caused major disruptions to transportation networks, particularly impacting travelers during the Bon holiday week. Thousands of people were left stranded overnight at Narita airport, which serves the Tokyo region, due to suspended train services. While partial rail service resumed Friday morning with delays, flights in and out of Narita continued operating normally as many sought to return home. Hundreds also took shelter overnight at the Chiba prefectural government building. Photos revealed widespread damage, showing homes, cars, and sections of railway tracks submerged in muddy water.

The Japan Meteorological Agency downgraded its most severe heavy rain warning for more than a dozen municipalities within Chiba prefecture Friday morning as rainfall subsided, but forecasts indicate further precipitation may occur later in the day. Authorities continue to assess the full extent of the damage and provide assistance to those affected.

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.