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2026 Chiba flood

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
2026 Chiba flood
Heavy rain in August 2026, Chiba City
DateAugust 13–14, 2026
Duration1 day
Location
CauseRecord torrential rainfall
DeathsAt least 13
InjuriesAt least 30

On August 13, 2026, heavy rainfall from a prolonged rainband occurred across the Kantō region of Japan.[1] The precipitation was focused mainly in Chiba prefecture[2], causing widespread flooding, landslides and at least 13 deaths and 30 injuries reported as of 18 August 2026.[3][4][5] The event was officially designated the August 2026 Chiba Heavy Rains (令和8年8月千葉豪雨) on August 14, 2026, by the Japan Meteorological Agency.[6]

Weather conditions

[edit]
August 13, 2026 17:50 3-hour precipitation

A Level 5 warning was issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency to over 22 cities and towns, indicating a life-threatening situation. A level 5 warning had never been issued in Chiba prefecture. This was subsequently downgraded to a level 4 warning on 14 August.[7] A total of 115 mm of rain in one hour was reported in Chiba city on 13 August[8] with 351 mm recorded at Chiba Station in 24 hours.[9] It was the wettest August in 60 years.[10]

Impact

[edit]
A passenger car stranded and abandoned on National Route 126

At least 400,000 people were ordered to evacuate.[11] Initial disruption to both rail and flight transport was reported on Thursday, with 7,000 stranded at Narita airport and hundreds at Chiba station.[12] Flights resumed from Narita airport on Friday[13] with partial rail resuming also.[12] However, rail service disruption continued into Friday, with suspension on the JR Keiyo, Kururi and Uchibō lines.[14]

Electricity outages were seen in Chiba due to flooding at Soga substation,[4] with outages lasting until the morning of the 15th August.[15] Over 68,000 homes were left without power.[14]

Over 70 homes were partially destroyed and over 1,000 were flooded during the flooding.[10] 3 properties collapsed.[16]

Around 2,500 cars were abandoned during the events, with many requiring recovery.[17] 600 vehicles were still left requiring recovery on 18th August. The local government launched a project alongside central government to remove the remaining vehicles;[16] however, they noted identifying car owners was challenging.[18] Many car owners were left to deal with repair costs themselves, having not taken out physical damage insurance.[19]

The rains and subsequent flooding were responsible for at least 13 deaths in Chiba prefecture[20], more than the 12 reported deaths following Typhoon Hagibis in October 2019.[21] Of the 13 people reported dead across Chiba in August 2019, three were found in submerged vehicles.[22]

Operations were cancelled at Chiba University Hospital due to damage; as of 17 August, they were unable to clean and sterilise surgical instruments due to flooding in the hospital basement.[23] There is a possibility of a radioactive waste leak from the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, however this posed no environmental risk.[23]

Response

[edit]

Shelters were set up at both Narita airport and the Chiba prefectural government building, with over 200 evacuation centres set up in total. The Japanese Army was called in to help evacuate at least 4,000 stranded people.[13]

Volunteers helped to clear flooded homes, with efforts continuing on 18th August.[24]

In October 2026, the Japan Sumo Association announced a donation of 10 million yen to support reconstruction efforts in the prefecture, with a portion of the funds having been raised through public donations during the September sumo tournament in Tokyo.[25]

Cause

[edit]

The cause of the flooding was the large volume of rainfall, which overwhelmed the Chiba city sewage system.[26]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Speed, Jessica (2026-09-11). "Record rain in Chiba caused by unusually slow storm system, experts say". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
  2. ↑ "Analysis: The August 2026 Chiba Torrential Rain — Inside a Once-in-10,000-Year Downpour | Corporate Blog - Weathernews Inc". global.weathernews.com. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
  3. ↑ Blair, Gavin (2026-08-14). "'Unprecedented' rain kills five in Japan as thousands stranded at airport". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-08-15.
  4. 1 2 Kaur, Reet (2026-08-14). "Record rainfall, floods and outages hit Chiba, leaving at least 8 dead, Japan". The Watchers. Retrieved 2026-08-15.
  5. ↑ "Fatalities due to record Chiba rainfall rise to 10 with one person still missing". The Japan Times. 2026-08-17. Retrieved 2026-08-17.
  6. ↑ "令和８年８月１３日からの千葉県の豪雨の名称について | 気象庁". www.jma.go.jp. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  7. ↑ "Japan: Record rain in Chiba kills eight as thousands stranded at Narita Airport". BBC News. 2026-08-14. Retrieved 2026-08-15.
  8. ↑ "Chiba rain kills five as record downpour strands thousands near Tokyo". India Today. 2026-08-14. Retrieved 2026-08-15.
  9. ↑ Kaur, Reet (2026-08-14). "Record rainfall, floods and outages hit Chiba, leaving at least 8 dead, Japan". The Watchers. Retrieved 2026-08-15.
  10. 1 2 France-Presse, Agence (2026-08-16). "Torrential rain and flood kill nine in Japan amid wettest month in decades". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-08-16.
  11. ↑ "Flooding in Chiba Prefecture leaves 8 dead, paralyzes transportation". Japan Today. 2026-08-14. Retrieved 2026-08-15.
  12. 1 2 "Record rain in Japan kills at least 8, leaves thousands stranded at Narita airport". CNA. Retrieved 2026-08-15.
  13. 1 2 "Record rainfall leaves four dead, thousands stranded in Japan". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2026-08-15.
  14. 1 2 "Flooding in Chiba Pref. leaves at least 8 dead, paralyzes transportation". Japan Wire by Kyodo News. 2026-08-14. Retrieved 2026-08-15.
  15. ↑ "【情報まとめ】千葉豪雨 車内"閉じ込め"などで10人死亡 駅一帯が冠水、住宅に浸水も…影響続く 道路や鉄道の復旧めどは". テレ朝NEWS (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-08-16.
  16. 1 2 "Abandoned cars hamper recovery after torrential rain in Chiba". The Asahi Shimbun. 19 August 2026. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  17. ↑ "千葉豪雨の死者9人に 住宅浸水1000棟超、放置車両1200台の撤去続く". 日本経済新聞 (in Japanese). 2026-08-15. Retrieved 2026-08-16.
  18. ↑ "1 week after Chiba rains: 13 dead, 2,700 homes damaged". NHK World Japan. 20 August 2026. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  19. ↑ "Owners of flooded cars in Japan's rain-hit Chiba Pref. left without insurance coverage". Mainichi Daily News. 2026-08-19. Retrieved 2026-08-20.
  20. ↑ "A week after Chiba Pref. floods, death toll stands at 13; over 2,800 homes damaged". Mainichi Daily News. 2026-08-20. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
  21. ↑ 千葉県. "令和元年10月25日の大雨". 千葉県 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-09-26.
  22. ↑ "Weather tracker: Extreme rain deluges Japan and South Korea". The Guardian. 2026-08-21. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
  23. 1 2 "【情報まとめ】千葉豪雨 車内"閉じ込め"などで13人死亡 駅一帯が冠水、住宅に浸水も…影響続く 道路の放置車両は約2700台". テレ朝NEWS (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-08-17.
  24. ↑ "Volunteers aid flood-hit areas in Japan's Chiba Pref. after torrential downpour". Mainichi Daily News. 2026-08-18. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  25. ↑ "日本相撲協会が「令和８年熊本地震」「令和８年８月千葉豪雨」の被災地に義援金各１０００万円を寄付". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). 1 October 2026. Retrieved 1 October 2026.
  26. ↑ 日本テレビ放送網株式会社. "#285 千葉豪雨…「都市型水害」の課題は｜キキコミ". 日本テレビ. Retrieved 2026-08-17.
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