The torrential downpours late Thursday triggered landslide warnings and power outages, with forecasters issuing the highest-level heavy rain warning for the Chiba region for the first time."I never thought I'd spend the night at the airport, but it is what it is and we are learning," one stranded air traveller told NHK."We're never going to forget this trip," he said.Those killed included a man in his 60s or 70s found floating in a flooded road and a 66-year-old woman stuck in her submerged car, the Chiba Prefecture Disaster Management Office said.The third fatality was a man of unknown age found collapsed on the street, and the fourth a person of undetermined gender and age. As of Friday noon, public broadcaster NHK reported an additional two people died, putting the total death toll at six.Meanwhile, close to 26,000 households across Chiba prefecture were without power, the disaster management office said.A total of 45 houses flooded in cities such as Ichikawa, Kashiwa and Sakura. Another 39 homes saw water seeping in below the floorboards.Trains cancelledA Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) official told a news conference on Thursday that this was "shaping up to be an unprecedented level of heavy rain".
Thousands stranded as heavy rain kills at least four in Japan
At least four people died in eastern Japan after "unprecedented" heavy rain that left thousands stranded at Narita airport overnight and snarled up roads and rail services, authorities said Friday.
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