A powerful typhoon barrelled toward Japan on Sunday, moving northeast and likely to hit Tokyo or surrounding regions Monday morning.
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Approaching typhoon brings heavy rain, wind to election-day Japan
AFP – A powerful typhoon barrelled toward Japan on Sunday, prompting Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to order his government on alert as millions struggled to the polls for a national election.
Typhoon Lan, described as "very large and very strong" by Japan's meteorological agency, was packing gusts up to 216 kilometres per hour Sunday afternoon in the Pacific south of Japan.
The storm, which has already lashed large areas of the Japanese archipelago, was moving northeast and may hit Tokyo or surrounding regions Monday morning.
Strong winds forced airline companies to ground more than 380 flights, while some train and ferry services in western Japan were cancelled due to the storm, local media said.
Abe ordered his minister in charge of disasters to be ready to mobilise rescue and evacuation forces, including troops.
Several local governments in Osaka and other prefectures issued evacuation advisories, urging residents living near the coast, rivers and hillsides to move to shelters.
The weather agency separately warned of high waves, landslides and floods in central and western Japan.
