2026 Chiba Prefecture flood
 Heavy rain in August 2026, Chiba City | |
| Date | August 13–14, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1 day |
| Location | |
| Cause | Record torrential rainfall |
| Deaths | At least 13 |
| Injuries | At least 30 |
On 13 August 2026, heavy rainfall hit the Kantō region of Japan, mainly in Chiba prefecture in, causing widespread flooding, landslides and at least 13 deaths and 30 injuries reported as of 18 August 2026.[1][2][3] It was designated the name "令和８年８月千葉豪雨" (August 2026 Chiba Heavy Rains) on 14 August by the Japan Meterological Agency.[4]
Weather conditions
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 has never been issued in Chiba prefecture. This was subsequently downgraded to a level 4 warning on 14 August.[5] 115 mm of rain in one hour was reported in Chiba city on 13 August[6] with 351 mm recorded at Chiba Station in 24 hours.[7] It was the wettest August in 60 years.[8]
Impact
At least 400,000 people were ordered to evacuate.[9] Initial disruption to both rail and flight transport was reported on Thursday, with 7,000 stranded at Narita airport and hundreds at Chiba station.[10] Flights resumed from Narita airport on Friday[11] with partial rail resuming also.[10] However, rail serve disruption continued into Friday, with suspension on the JR Keiyo, Kururi and Uchibō lines.[12]
Electricity outages were seen in Chiba due to flooding at Soga substation,[2] with outages lasting until the morning of the 15th August.[13] Over 68,000 homes were left without power.[12]
Over 70 homes were partially destroyed and over 1,000 flooded during the flooding.[8] 3 properties collapsed.[14]
Around 2,500 cars were abandoned during the events, with many requiring recovery.[15] 600 vehicles were still left requiring recovery on 18th August. The local government launched a project alongside central government to remove the remaining vehicles[14] however they noted identify car owners was challenging.[16] Many car owners were left to deal with repair costs themselves, having not taken out physical damage insurance.[17]
More deaths in Chiba occurred than were reported during Typhoon Hagibis in 2019.
Operations were cancelled at Chiba University Hospital due to damage to damage, they are currently, as of 17th August, unable to clean and sterilise surgical instruments due to flooding in the hospital basement.[18]
There is a possibility of a radioactive waste leak from the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, however this posed no environmental risk.[18]
Of the 13 people reported dead, three were found in submerged vehicles.[19]
Response
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.[11]
Volunteers helped to clear flooded homes, with efforts continuing on 18th August.[20]
Cause
The cause of the flooding was the large volume of rainfall, which overwhelmed the Chiba city sewage system.[21]
References
- ↑ 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.
- 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.
- ↑ "Fatalities due to record Chiba rainfall rise to 10 with one person still missing". The Japan Times. 2026-08-17. Retrieved 2026-08-17.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Japan: Record rain in Chiba kills eight as thousands stranded at Narita Airport". BBC News. 2026-08-14. Retrieved 2026-08-15.
- ↑ "Chiba rain kills five as record downpour strands thousands near Tokyo". India Today. 2026-08-14. Retrieved 2026-08-15.
- ↑ Kaur, Reet (2026-08-14). "Record rainfall, floods and outages hit Chiba, leaving at least 8 dead, Japan". The Watchers. Retrieved 2026-08-15.
- 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.
- ↑ "Flooding in Chiba Prefecture leaves 8 dead, paralyzes transportation". Japan Today. 2026-08-14. Retrieved 2026-08-15.
- 1 2 "Record rain in Japan kills at least 8, leaves thousands stranded at Narita airport". CNA. Retrieved 2026-08-15.
- 1 2 "Record rainfall leaves four dead, thousands stranded in Japan". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2026-08-15.
- 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.
- ↑ "【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.
- 1 2 "Abandoned cars hamper recovery after torrential rain in Chiba". The Asahi Shimbun. 19 August 2026. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "1 week after Chiba rains: 13 dead, 2,700 homes damaged". NHK World Japan. 20 August 2026. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
- ↑ "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.
- 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.
- ↑ "Weather tracker: Extreme rain deluges Japan and South Korea". The Guardian. 2026-08-21. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
- ↑ "Volunteers aid flood-hit areas in Japan's Chiba Pref. after torrential downpour". Mainichi Daily News. 2026-08-18. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
- ↑ 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.