Big rain and flooding in Chiba!!
- Thread starter johnnyG
- Start date
- 14 Mar 2002
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- 19,050
I showed my brother around Jindai-ji in Chōfu yesterday. Our tour was cut short by one of the worst thunderstorms I'd ever experienced. We escaped to a soba restaurant, which was soon flooded, too. The JMA said yesterday's tempest was still connected to Typhoon No. 15.
- 18 Jan 2005
- 11,702
- 3,697
On the other hand, in northern Kyushu, we had been hoping that Typhoon No. 15 would bring much-needed rain. However, it weakened into a tropical depression over the Chugoku region and dissipated, so the rain never came.
Water levels at three dams in the Chikugo River system fall to 52%; drought response headquarters established and residents urged to conserve water — Fukuoka
In northern Kyushu , there has been very little rainfall since the rainy season ended on July 8. As of midnight on August 10, the three dams in the Chikugo River system in Asakura, Fukuoka Prefecture, were about 52% full, which is only around 70% of the normal level.
On August 10, the Japan Water Agency established drought response headquarters at its Chikugo River Office and Chikugo River Headwaters Integrated Management Office, citing the growing risk of water shortages.
The drought response headquarters had previously been dissolved on July 13, after heavy rainfall at the end of June had restored the three dams' storage levels to approximately 83%.
The Japan Water Agency is urging residents to cooperate in conserving water, warning that if there is no significant rainfall in the coming days, the shortage could eventually have a direct impact on water supplies for daily household use.
Water levels at three dams in the Chikugo River system fall to 52%; drought response headquarters established and residents urged to conserve water — Fukuoka
In northern Kyushu , there has been very little rainfall since the rainy season ended on July 8. As of midnight on August 10, the three dams in the Chikugo River system in Asakura, Fukuoka Prefecture, were about 52% full, which is only around 70% of the normal level.
On August 10, the Japan Water Agency established drought response headquarters at its Chikugo River Office and Chikugo River Headwaters Integrated Management Office, citing the growing risk of water shortages.
The drought response headquarters had previously been dissolved on July 13, after heavy rainfall at the end of June had restored the three dams' storage levels to approximately 83%.
The Japan Water Agency is urging residents to cooperate in conserving water, warning that if there is no significant rainfall in the coming days, the shortage could eventually have a direct impact on water supplies for daily household use.
- 18 Jan 2005
- 11,702
- 3,697
It looks like there have also been fatalities in the torrential rains in Chiba.
Torrential rains paralyse transportation in Chiba; passengers stranded at Narita Airport and forced to spend the night there, while some train services remain suspended until noon — Good! Morning (August 14, 2026)
In Chiba Prefecture, more than 20 instances of record-breaking short-duration heavy rainfall have been observed, sharply increasing the risk of disasters. As a result, several railway services in the prefecture have been suspended until noon.
■ Heavy rain hits during the evening commute, causing widespread flooding
Amid flashes of lightning, firefighters worked desperately to direct traffic. A man was walking through a flooded road, apparently in a hurry to get somewhere.
Man:
"(Q. Where are you headed?) I'm going to pick up my child from daycare. It's really bad around here. I've only lived here for about three years, and I've never seen anything like this before."
The torrential rain hit during the evening rush hour. People waded through the floodwaters, while strong winds repeatedly turned their umbrellas inside out. Some people nearly fell.
A cyclist was riding through water that had risen halfway up the bicycle wheels, but eventually gave up and began pushing the bicycle instead.
As time passed, the rain became increasingly intense.
■ Three people dead and one in cardiac arrest in Chiba
The extent of the damage caused by the heavy rain has also begun to emerge.
Floodwaters were seen rising in a river in Futamata, Ichikawa City. The fire department reportedly received a call saying that a man was floating in a flooded road in the area.
According to the prefectural government, a man believed to be in his 60s or 70s was found floating in a flooded road in Ichikawa City and was later confirmed dead.
In Kamitakano, Yachiyo City, another man believed to be in his 30s or 40s was found floating in a flooded road and was also confirmed dead.
In Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, a white car had stopped at the bottom of a slope. An elderly woman became trapped inside a vehicle that was unable to move because of the flooding and was transported to a hospital in cardiac arrest.
In addition, a 66-year-old woman who had become trapped inside a vehicle in Sakura City also died.
So far, three people have died in Chiba Prefecture, while another woman remains in cardiac arrest.
■ Many people stranded at stations and Narita Airport
Shortly after 7 p.m., a station directly connected to Narita Airport was in chaos.
Station employee:
"Due to the heavy rain that occurred today and its effects on the Keisei Line, all trains departing from this station are currently suspended."
Passengers appeared confused after learning about the sudden situation only after getting off their flights.
The disruption continued inside the airport. Footage taken at Narita Airport around 11 p.m. showed people sitting and sleeping in various parts of the lobby, including foreign travellers.
Passenger who spent the night at the airport, woman in her 20s:
"I'll be staying at the airport tonight. Maybe I can get home on the first train tomorrow morning, but I'm still not sure."
The woman had travelled to Mongolia with a friend during the Obon holiday. She said she realised something was wrong after arriving at the airport and checking how she could get home.
Woman:
"I arrived in Japan on a flight that landed at Narita around 9 p.m., but the Keisei Line, JR lines, and even the Yokosuka Line were all suspended. The airport had also blocked access to the railway level. The buses weren't running either. There were more than 100 people waiting for taxis, and since the expressways were also closed, I couldn't even ask someone to come pick us up."
■ With no way home, they spend the night at the airport
With no way to get home, the two decided to spend the night at the airport.
Later, an announcement was made that water and snacks would be distributed at the airport, but the line was so long that its end could hardly be seen.
Woman:
"We had just come back from our trip, and we don't have work tomorrow, so we're mostly just tired and thinking that this is a bit of a hassle. But I imagine it's much harder for people who have plans tomorrow or for foreign travellers. Honestly, we'd like to go home right now, but there's nothing we can do."
The two reportedly waited in line for about an hour and received water, cookies, and sleeping bags.
(From the August 14, 2026 broadcast.)
Torrential rains paralyse transportation in Chiba; passengers stranded at Narita Airport and forced to spend the night there, while some train services remain suspended until noon — Good! Morning (August 14, 2026)
In Chiba Prefecture, more than 20 instances of record-breaking short-duration heavy rainfall have been observed, sharply increasing the risk of disasters. As a result, several railway services in the prefecture have been suspended until noon.
■ Heavy rain hits during the evening commute, causing widespread flooding
Amid flashes of lightning, firefighters worked desperately to direct traffic. A man was walking through a flooded road, apparently in a hurry to get somewhere.
Man:
"(Q. Where are you headed?) I'm going to pick up my child from daycare. It's really bad around here. I've only lived here for about three years, and I've never seen anything like this before."
The torrential rain hit during the evening rush hour. People waded through the floodwaters, while strong winds repeatedly turned their umbrellas inside out. Some people nearly fell.
A cyclist was riding through water that had risen halfway up the bicycle wheels, but eventually gave up and began pushing the bicycle instead.
As time passed, the rain became increasingly intense.
■ Three people dead and one in cardiac arrest in Chiba
The extent of the damage caused by the heavy rain has also begun to emerge.
Floodwaters were seen rising in a river in Futamata, Ichikawa City. The fire department reportedly received a call saying that a man was floating in a flooded road in the area.
According to the prefectural government, a man believed to be in his 60s or 70s was found floating in a flooded road in Ichikawa City and was later confirmed dead.
In Kamitakano, Yachiyo City, another man believed to be in his 30s or 40s was found floating in a flooded road and was also confirmed dead.
In Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, a white car had stopped at the bottom of a slope. An elderly woman became trapped inside a vehicle that was unable to move because of the flooding and was transported to a hospital in cardiac arrest.
In addition, a 66-year-old woman who had become trapped inside a vehicle in Sakura City also died.
So far, three people have died in Chiba Prefecture, while another woman remains in cardiac arrest.
■ Many people stranded at stations and Narita Airport
Shortly after 7 p.m., a station directly connected to Narita Airport was in chaos.
Station employee:
"Due to the heavy rain that occurred today and its effects on the Keisei Line, all trains departing from this station are currently suspended."
Passengers appeared confused after learning about the sudden situation only after getting off their flights.
The disruption continued inside the airport. Footage taken at Narita Airport around 11 p.m. showed people sitting and sleeping in various parts of the lobby, including foreign travellers.
Passenger who spent the night at the airport, woman in her 20s:
"I'll be staying at the airport tonight. Maybe I can get home on the first train tomorrow morning, but I'm still not sure."
The woman had travelled to Mongolia with a friend during the Obon holiday. She said she realised something was wrong after arriving at the airport and checking how she could get home.
Woman:
"I arrived in Japan on a flight that landed at Narita around 9 p.m., but the Keisei Line, JR lines, and even the Yokosuka Line were all suspended. The airport had also blocked access to the railway level. The buses weren't running either. There were more than 100 people waiting for taxis, and since the expressways were also closed, I couldn't even ask someone to come pick us up."
■ With no way home, they spend the night at the airport
With no way to get home, the two decided to spend the night at the airport.
Later, an announcement was made that water and snacks would be distributed at the airport, but the line was so long that its end could hardly be seen.
Woman:
"We had just come back from our trip, and we don't have work tomorrow, so we're mostly just tired and thinking that this is a bit of a hassle. But I imagine it's much harder for people who have plans tomorrow or for foreign travellers. Honestly, we'd like to go home right now, but there's nothing we can do."
The two reportedly waited in line for about an hour and received water, cookies, and sleeping bags.
(From the August 14, 2026 broadcast.)
