Travellers were shocked by the circumstances and about 7,000 people slept inside terminals at an airport as emergency workers handed out sleeping bags, water and food
Thousands of people slept inside a busy Japanese airport after floodwaters cut off rail and road links.
About 7,000 people slept inside terminals at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport on Thursday, August 13. 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.”
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.”
Weather experts said the disaster was caused by a rare combination of cold air high in the atmosphere, an 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.