Japan Typhoon Kills Four, Strands 7,000 at Narita Airport

Typhoon Mindulle, bringing what meteorologists described as unprecedented rainfall, has resulted in the deaths of four individuals across Japan. The storm's impact has been severe, cutting power to more than 20,000 households and causing significant travel disruption.

Tokyo's Narita Airport, a major international hub, saw approximately 7,000 passengers stranded due to the typhoon's effects on transport links. This included the suspension of all train services from the airport into the capital, leaving travellers with no immediate means of onward travel.

Authorities issued warnings to millions across central and eastern Japan, including the greater Tokyo area, urging vigilance against mudslides, flooding, and overflowing rivers. The Japan Meteorological Agency recorded rainfall exceeding 100mm per hour in several locations, with Chiba prefecture experiencing over 300mm in a single day, an amount equivalent to the average rainfall for the entire month of August.

While the typhoon has since been downgraded to an extratropical cyclone, its residual effects are still being felt, particularly in remote areas where recovery efforts are ongoing.