The transport disruption left around 7,000 people stranded at Narita, an airport spokesperson said, adding that all flights are scheduled to operate normally on Friday. Japan Airlines said some flights may experience delays but no cancellations are currently expected.
Users on social media said that airport staff handed out free water, food and sleeping bags.
“I never thought I’d spend the night at the airport but it is what it is and we are learning,” one stranded air traveller told NHK.
“We’re never going to forget this trip,” he said.
Major highways in Chiba, including routes linking Narita airport, one of Japan’s main international transport hubs, with central Tokyo, remained closed, forcing drivers onto alternative routes and causing heavy traffic, according to highway operator NEXCO East.
Several rail services remained suspended on Friday morning, though some trains connecting Narita to Tokyo had resumed operations.
Hundreds of people were also left stranded in Chiba station due to suspended train services, an AFP journalist saw.
Hundreds spent the night in shelters in Chiba, NHK reported, showing cars in flood water up to their headlights in Kashiwa city.
“This happened all of a sudden so it was a complete surprise. The power is out so I’m worried whether I can open my business in the next couple of days,” a woman in Chiba’s Ichikawa city told NHK on Thursday.
Scientists say human-driven climate change is making extreme weather more frequent, prolonged and intense.
Read the full article here
