CHIBA - The death toll from the record-breaking heavy rain in Chiba Prefecture has risen to eight, with one person still missing and damage reported to at least 170 homes as flooding, landslides, water outages and transport disruptions continued on August 14.
According to the Chiba prefectural government and police, eight men and women have been confirmed dead after roads flooded in Chiba, Ichikawa, Kashiwa, Sakura and Yachiyo, with some victims becoming trapped inside vehicles.
Two other people were seriously injured and 27 suffered minor injuries.
One person remained missing in Chiba city.
Damage to homes continued to mount. One house in Chiba city was completely destroyed by a landslide, while four homes in Chiba and Mobara were partially destroyed. Three other buildings suffered partial damage.
A total of 170 homes in areas including Kashiwa and Sakura were affected by flooding above or below floor level.
Chiba city also reported ruptures in water pipes at three locations, leaving at least 50 households without running water. Authorities were responding with water trucks and other emergency measures.
As of 1:30 p.m. on August 14, 2,750 people were sheltering at 228 evacuation sites across Chiba Prefecture.
Transport disruptions also continued.
The entire Chiba-Togane Road remained closed, along with part of the Ken-O Expressway in Chiba Prefecture.
Multiple landslides have been confirmed along the affected sections, and authorities said there was no prospect yet for when the road closures could be lifted.
The severe weather followed repeated linear rainbands that developed over Chiba from the afternoon of August 13, bringing record rainfall and extensive flooding across the prefecture.
The Japan Meteorological Agency named the event the Reiwa 8 August Chiba Heavy Rain after the torrential rainfall that struck from the afternoon of August 13 through the early hours of August 14.
A total of 25 emergency bulletins for record-breaking short-term heavy rain were issued during the event.
Source: TBS
