Japan braces for ‘very dangerous’ Typhoon Nanmadol, urges evacuation in Kagoshima city
- Japan’s weather agency classified the typhoon as a “violent” storm with wind speeds of up to 270km/h
- The storm is expected to near or make landfall on Sunday in Kyushu’s southern Kagoshima Prefecture, move north Monday towards Japan’s main island
Japan’s weather agency warned on Saturday of “unprecedented” risks from a “very dangerous” typhoon heading towards the southern Kyushu island, urging residents to take shelter ahead of the storm.
Typhoon Nanmadol was producing gusts of up to 270 kilometres an hour and was classified as a “violent” storm, the agency’s top level, on Saturday.
By late afternoon it was approaching the remote Minami Daito island, 400 kilometres east of Okinawa island.
The storm is expected to approach or make landfall on Sunday in Kyushu’s southern Kagoshima Prefecture, then move north the following day before heading towards Japan’s main island.
“There are risks of unprecedented storms, high waves, storm surges, and record rainfall,” Ryuta Kurora, the head of Japan Meteorological Agency’s (JMA) forecast unit, told reporters.
“Maximum caution is required,” he said, urging residents to evacuate early.