CHIBA - A levee collapse at Lake Inbanuma in Chiba Prefecture following heavy rain from Typhoon No. 25 has devastated a koi breeding facility in Narita, leaving nearly 100,000 fish lost and causing an estimated 1 billion yen in damage to livestock and equipment.
The breach caused extensive flooding across the surrounding area, submerging homes and businesses and leaving residents struggling to clear mud and damaged belongings. At Tani Fish Farm, which breeds and sells ornamental Nishikigoi, floodwaters reached approximately 1.5 meters, leaving visible mud marks on the walls of its buildings.
Water finally receded on September 26, allowing employees to enter the property and assess the full extent of the destruction. Workers began removing mud-covered tables, chairs, refrigerators and other equipment as cleanup continued in the rain.
The farm, which has operated for more than 60 years, occupies an area equivalent to approximately 1.5 Tokyo Domes. Footage recorded by an employee from a boat during the flooding showed the entire property submerged, resembling a vast lake. All of the facility's koi breeding ponds and holding tanks were inundated, allowing fish to escape into the surrounding floodwaters.
Nearly all of the approximately 100,000 Nishikigoi raised at the facility are believed to have been lost. The ornamental carp, often described as "swimming jewels," include valuable specimens that attract buyers from overseas, with some individual fish worth several million yen.
Rows of holding tanks that previously contained koi for sale are now virtually empty. In tanks that once housed fish worth around 30,000 yen each, only goldfish and small fish apparently carried in by the floodwaters remain.
According to the farm's representative, Tani, approximately 70% of the estimated 1 billion yen in damage involves lost fish, while the remaining 30% relates to damaged facilities and equipment.
Tani said the destruction was considerably worse than he had imagined before entering the flooded property. "There is a big difference between looking at it from a distance and actually going inside on your own feet. The situation is much worse than I expected," he said.
Despite the farm's history spanning more than six decades, Tani described the disaster as entirely unexpected. "I never dreamed something like this could happen," he said.
The facility also operates as a leisure destination, offering recreational fishing and play areas for children. Although it would normally attract numerous visitors on a Saturday afternoon, there is currently no indication of when it will be able to reopen.
Restoring electricity has emerged as one of the most urgent challenges. The farm receives high-voltage electricity through a transformer unit known as a cubicle, which converts the incoming supply into 200-volt and 100-volt power for use throughout the property.
The transformer unit was submerged during the flooding, leaving much of the facility without electricity. Electricians are assessing whether the equipment can be repaired, while generators are being used to maintain limited operations.
Tani said that if the transformer can be restored, electricity could be returned throughout the facility. However, if the unit requires complete replacement, obtaining and installing a new one could take several months.
The flooding has also severely damaged the pumps used to draw groundwater from wells for the farm's breeding operations. Most of these pumps have stopped working, creating another major obstacle to restoring the water supply needed to raise fish.
With both electricity and water infrastructure severely affected, restarting production is expected to take considerable time. The loss of nearly the entire koi stock presents an additional challenge for the long-established business.
The full extent of the damage caused by the levee breach around Lake Inbanuma has yet to be determined, and the disaster's impact on local businesses and residents is expected to continue as cleanup and recovery efforts progress.
Source: YOMIURI
