Heavy rain set record levels across eastern Japan, causing flooding and disrupting travel in Tokyo and surrounding areas. Meanwhile, a woman in her 60s died after her car was submerged in water at an underpass in Fukushima Prefecture.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a level 5 landslide warning—the highest level—in some southern areas of Tokyo after record-breaking heavy rainfall. The heavy rain began on the morning of 7 September, broadly affecting eastern Japan, including Tokyo, Chiba, Saitama, and surrounding areas, resulting in flooding, rail travel disruptions, and temporary school closures.
In Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture, authorities found a car submerged in water at an underpass. They rescued a woman estimated to be in her 60s from the vehicle, but she was unconscious and later declared dead.
One severely affected area was Niijima Island in the Izu Islands, south of Tokyo, where accumulated rainfall reached 485 millimeters in 24 hours—the highest ever recorded for that location.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) therefore issued a level 5 landslide warning, the highest in their alert system, urging residents to quickly seek safe areas, especially those near cliffs and valleys.
Additionally, level 5 warnings were issued for Oshima and Toshima, also in the Izu Islands, while parts of Chiba and Saitama Prefectures near Tokyo received level 4 landslide warnings.
The heavy rain also impacted transportation systems, with some train lines in Tokyo reducing service or suspending operations partially. The Yamagata Shinkansen experienced service interruptions on certain sections, affecting many commuters.
Japanese authorities also reported that hundreds of schools, particularly in the Kanto and Tohoku regions, temporarily closed to ensure the safety of students and staff.
Meanwhile, the Japan Meteorological Agency warned that areas along Japan’s Pacific coast may see additional heavy rainfall as warm, moist air masses move toward the northern Honshu island’s frontal zone, urging residents to closely monitor flooding, landslides, and prolonged heavy rain.
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