Flooding, Fatalities, and Transportation Disruptions

On September 11, the Tokyo metropolitan area was battered by heavy rain, which caused significant flooding, disrupted transportation networks, and tragically claimed the life of a worker at a container terminal. The unusual weather was attributed to warm, humid air colliding with an autumn rain front, creating volatile atmospheric conditions that unleashed powerful thunderstorms in a brief span.

In Meguro Ward, central Tokyo, a staggering 134.0 millimeters of rain fell within just one hour, as reported by the Tokyo metropolitan government. A local high school student noted the dramatic rise in the water level of the Megurogawa river, which swelled to four times its usual height. The Japan Meteorological Agency recorded substantial rainfall in various other areas as well, including 92.0 millimeters in Setagaya Ward and 88.5 millimeters in Ota Ward, leading to the flooding of rivers in Tokyo's Setagaya and Shinagawa wards. Consequently, local authorities issued Level 5 evacuation alerts, indicating a severe disaster situation.

In a tragic incident in Ota Ward, a worker operating heavy machinery was killed when a storage container fell, likely due to the severe weather, as suggested by local police. Another individual was injured but remained conscious following the accident. Additionally, in Tachikawa, western Tokyo, emergency responders received calls about a fire in an apartment building started by a lightning strike, resulting in the hospitalization of a woman in her 90s, who was treated for smoke inhalation.

The adverse weather also impacted air travel, leading to suspended takeoffs and landings at Haneda Airport, with Japan Airlines canceling 34 flights by the evening and All Nippon Airways grounding 31 flights earlier in the day. Operations on the Tokaido Shinkansen were similarly disrupted, halting services between Tokyo and Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture, due to the storm's intensity.