OAMISHIROSATO, Japan — Record rainfall in Japan stranded thousands of travelers at Tokyo’s Narita airport on Friday, bringing floods to the surrounding area that disrupted transport, knocked out power to 20,000 homes and killed eight.
During one of Japan’s busiest holiday weeks, more than 360 mm (14 inches) of rain fell in 24 hours in parts of the Chiba area adjoining Tokyo, inundating roads and railways, with soldiers sent to help with rescue efforts.
“This case was an extremely unusual situation,” Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai told reporters. “I have responded to many disasters in the past, but I have never experienced a case like this.”
The eight dead included one person trapped in a submerged vehicle, public broadcaster NHK said, citing Chiba authorities and police.
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