Tokyo faces rainiest August in 60 years; 9 dead in severe floods

The Tokyo region is grappling with unprecedented rainfall, marking the rainiest August in 60 years and resulting in at least nine deaths. The torrential downpours have triggered widespread flooding, inundating more than 1,000 homes and causing significant disruptions to transportation networks.

Authorities in Chiba prefecture, adjacent to Tokyo, reported that some victims were found trapped inside vehicles submerged by the floodwaters. One weather station recorded over 30 centimeters (nearly 12 inches) of rain in just 24 hours. The Japan Meteorological Agency confirmed that August is shaping up to be the wettest month in 60 years for Chiba.

In response to the extreme weather, meteorologists issued the highest level of warning for heavy rainfall for the first time in the prefecture. Officials are also cautioning residents about the risk of landslides. Similar weather-related problems, including power outages, have affected Tokyo itself, with over 70 houses damaged in the wider metropolitan area. Scientists increasingly attribute the heightened frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events to climate change.