CHIBA –
More than 1,200 autos are believed to have been left stranded on roads throughout Chiba Prefecture after torrential rain precipitated widespread flooding, with authorities confirming eight deaths and investigating a drainage pump failure at an underpass the place a person died.
According to Chiba Prefecture and Chiba City, greater than 200 autos grew to become immobilized after being submerged or in any other case affected by flooding on prefectural and nationwide roads, whereas the variety of deserted autos inside Chiba City alone is anticipated to exceed 1,000.
The stranded autos are creating further hazards on roads nonetheless affected by the catastrophe.
At round 4:30 a.m., a passenger automobile touring via Inage Ward in Chiba City crashed right into a car that had been deserted on the roadway. The driver complained of chest ache following the collision.
Chiba Prefecture and police stated eight women and men have to this point been confirmed lifeless because of the torrential rain.
One man stays lacking in Wakaba Ward, Chiba City, and police are persevering with a seek for him.
The heavy rain has additionally precipitated intensive property injury. One constructing in Chiba City was utterly destroyed, whereas a complete of 480 buildings have suffered flooding above or under flooring degree and different water-related injury.
Authorities are additionally investigating the circumstances surrounding a deadly incident at an underpass in Chuo Ward, Chiba City, the place a car grew to become submerged and a person in his 40s was confirmed lifeless.
According to the Chiba National Highway Office, a drainage pump designed to function when the underpass turns into flooded did not operate correctly.
A backup emergency generator that was supposed to begin robotically throughout an influence outage additionally did not function.
The Chiba National Highway Office is investigating the reason for the malfunction.
Source: TBS