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Saturday, October 11, 2014

Japan Prepares for Typhoon- BBC


Japan prepares for 'powerful' Typhoon Vongfong

Typhoon Vongfong over the Pacific ocean (8 Oct 2014) Vongfong is slated to make landfall on Monday

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Japan is bracing for the arrival of a powerful typhoon, Vongfong, which officials have said will be the strongest storm to hit Japan this year.

The storm brought heavy rain and fierce winds to the southern island of Okinawa, causing flight cancellations and power cuts to over 20,000 homes.

It is expected to brush past Okinawa on Sunday before heading north and making landfall at Kyushu island on Monday.

Earlier this week, typhoon Phanfone killed nine people in Japan.

Officials have warned Vongfong could bring high waves, storm surges, flooding and landslides.
Storm tracking website Tropical Storm Risk shows Vongfong losing power over the next few days, as it moves northeast along the rest of Japan.

It is said to be carrying winds up to 235km/h (145mph), but is moving north slowly, at 15km/h.
At least 14 people in Okinawa and Kyushu have already been injured by the strong winds, local reports say.

Large waves generated by typhoon Vongfong hit the coast in Hamagawa, Chatan town, on the island of Okinawa, southern Japan, 11 October 2014 Strong waves pounded the coast of Okinawa as the typhoon approached
People struggle against strong wind and rain caused by approaching Typhoon Vongfong as they walk on a street in Naha on Japan's southern island of Okinawa, 11 October 2014 Officials warn the typhoon could bring torrential rain and possible flooding
 
On Friday, an official from Japan's Meteorological Agency told Reuters news agency: "There is no question that [Vongfong] is an extremely large, extremely powerful typhoon."

"It's the strongest storm we've had this year, definitely, although it has lost some strength from its peak."

It has picked up strength since it went through several South Pacific islands including Guam.
The Associated Press news agency said it caused little damage on those islands. It had caused brief power outages and there were no reports of deaths or injuries.

Pedestrians walk against strong wind and rain in Tokyo on 6 October 2014.  
Typhoon Phanfone moved across Japan earlier this week, briefly bringing strong winds and rain to Tokyo
 
Last week parts of Japan were hit by Typhoon Phanfone, though that storm had rapidly lost power by the time it hit Tokyo on Monday.

Japan's Kyodo news agency said nine people are now known to have been killed by Phanfone, including three US military servicemen in Okinawa who were washed out to sea. Their bodies have since been recovered.

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