Four dead in Japan's eastern Chiba prefecture from torrential rains and floods

Torrential rains and severe flooding have claimed at least four lives and left one person seriously injured in Chiba prefecture, eastern Japan. The downpours, which triggered widespread flooding, also forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents. Chiba city recorded an unprecedented 348 millimeters of rain in just 12 hours, the highest amount since records began, according to Japanese broadcaster NHK.

Authorities issued evacuation orders for over 400,000 people, though by Friday morning, only about 7,359 had taken shelter in municipal refuges. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) had raised the alert for landslides to the highest level on Thursday. While the alert has since been lowered to level 4, the risk of landslides, floods, and river overflows remains high.

"Many areas have unstable ground, posing risks including landslides," stated Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai. The victims include a man in his 60s found on a flooded road and a 66-year-year-old woman trapped in her waterlogged vehicle. One person remains missing.

These extreme weather events in Japan occur amidst a backdrop of heavy rainfall, cyclones, and subsequent flooding across several Asian nations this month, which have resulted in over 50 deaths, primarily impacting China, India, the Philippines, and Myanmar.

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Many areas have unstable ground, posing risks including landslides.