Heavy rain set a record high as it battered eastern Japan, causing floods and disrupting travel in Tokyo and nearby areas, while a woman in her 60s died after her car was submerged in floodwaters in Fukushima Prefecture.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a level 5 landslide warning—the highest level—for some areas south of Tokyo after record-breaking heavy rainfall. The intense rain began on the morning of 7 September, widely affecting eastern regions including Tokyo, Chiba, Saitama, and surrounding areas, leading to flooding, train delays, and temporary school closures.
In Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture, officials found a car submerged in floodwaters near an underpass and rescued a woman around 60 years old from the vehicle. She was unconscious and later declared dead.
One of the hardest-hit areas was Niijima Island in the Izu Islands south of Tokyo, which recorded an accumulated rainfall of 485 millimeters in 24 hours—the highest since records began for that area.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a level 5 landslide warning, the highest alert in its warning system, urging residents to quickly seek safe locations, especially 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 were placed under level 4 landslide warnings.
The heavy rain also impacted transportation, forcing some train lines in Tokyo to reduce service or suspend operations. Sections of the Yamagata Shinkansen were also halted, affecting many commuters.
Authorities also reported that hundreds of schools, particularly in the Kanto and Tohoku regions, were temporarily closed to ensure the safety of students and staff.
Meanwhile, the JMA warned that heavy rain could continue along Japan’s Pacific coast as warm, humid air masses move into the frontal zone over Honshu Island. Residents were urged to closely monitor risks of flooding, landslides, and prolonged heavy rainfall.
. Source:Kyodo News
Click to read related news aboutInternational News