Flash Floods Hit Tokyo, One Worker Killed and Transportation Disrupted
Light House Denver – Flash floods suddenly struck Japan’s capital, Tokyo, on Thursday (Sept 11) after hours of relentless torrential rain. One worker was reported dead in an incident at a container terminal, while several residents had to be evacuated.
The phenomenon was triggered by warm and humid air colliding with high-intensity autumn rainfall, creating highly unstable atmospheric conditions. As a result, severe thunderstorms developed in a short period, paralyzing parts of Tokyo.
In central Tokyo’s Meguro District, the metropolitan government recorded rainfall reaching 134.0 millimeters in just one hour by 3:20 p.m. local time, an extreme and rarely observed figure.
“Usually, the riverbed is clearly visible, but this time the water level rose almost four times higher than normal,” said a 16-year-old high school student who witnessed the overflowing Megurogawa River.
According to Asahi Shimbun, heavy rainfall was also recorded in Setagaya District (92.0 mm), Ota District (88.5 mm), and Kohoku District in Yokohama (70.5 mm) within just one hour at midday.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government reported several rivers overflowing in Setagaya and Shinagawa Districts. District offices issued a Level 5 evacuation warning, the highest disaster alert in Japan. Thousands of residents were urged to move to safe locations until the situation improved.
In Ota District, a heavy equipment operator was killed after being crushed by a storage container that toppled at a terminal. Tokyo Metropolitan Police suspect torrential rain combined with strong winds caused the container to overturn.
Another worker sustained chest injuries but remained conscious. The incident has heightened concerns over worker safety during severe storms.
In western Tokyo’s Tachikawa area, residents reported a fire in a second-floor apartment caused by a lightning strike. A woman in her 90s was taken to hospital after inhaling smoke, but fortunately remained conscious. The incident underscored the dual dangers of thunderstorms, not only floods but also fire hazards.
Japan’s Ministry of Transport confirmed that takeoffs and landings at Haneda Airport in Ota District were temporarily suspended due to severe thunderstorms.
Japan Airlines canceled 34 flights by 7:30 p.m., while All Nippon Airways canceled 31 flights by 6:00 p.m. Meanwhile, operations on the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train line were temporarily suspended between Tokyo and Mishima in Shizuoka Prefecture, adding to the day’s widespread transport disruptions.
This extreme rainfall highlights how sudden weather changes can paralyze Tokyo within hours. Both central and local governments continue to monitor weather developments closely. They are urging residents to remain vigilant against the risk of further flooding and possible storms in the coming days.
This information is sourced from CNNIndonesia. Flash floods suddenly struck Japan’s capital, Tokyo, on Thursday (Sept 11) after hours of relentless torrential rain. Read the full article on LightHouseDenver.
| Author: Lukman Azhari
| Editor: Anna Hidayat
