At least four people have died in eastern Japan after what authorities described as “unprecedented” heavy rain triggered widespread disruption, leaving thousands stranded overnight at Narita airport and snarling road and rail services, officials said Friday.

Record-breaking heavy rain has pounded eastern Japan, flooding roads and homes, paralyzing traffic, and causing power outages near Tokyo.

Unprecedented rainfall battered Japan on Thursday, leaving at least four people dead and flooding parts of Chiba prefecture, east of Tokyo. Authorities issued the region’s…