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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Typhoon Bolaven lashes Japan's Okinawa | Typhoon Bolaven lashes Japan's Okinawa |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A powerful typhoon has crashed into the Japanese island of Okinawa, forcing thousands of residents to take cover. | A powerful typhoon has crashed into the Japanese island of Okinawa, forcing thousands of residents to take cover. |
| Forecasters are predicting that the slow-moving Typhoon Bolaven could be the strongest storm to strike the island in more than 50 years. | |
| Residents have been told to stay indoors and protect themselves against the strong winds and heavy rain. | Residents have been told to stay indoors and protect themselves against the strong winds and heavy rain. |
| State broadcaster NHK said gusts could overturn cars, while waves around the island could reach 12m (40ft). | State broadcaster NHK said gusts could overturn cars, while waves around the island could reach 12m (40ft). |
| Japan's meteorological agency estimated wind speeds near the storm's centre at around 180km/h (112 mph), while extremely strong gusts were reaching 252 km/h. | Japan's meteorological agency estimated wind speeds near the storm's centre at around 180km/h (112 mph), while extremely strong gusts were reaching 252 km/h. |
| The storm is expected to bring as much as 500mm (20in) of rain in the 24 hours before noon local time (0300 GMT) on Monday, according to the agency. | |
| All domestic and international flights out of the island's Naha Airport have been cancelled. | All domestic and international flights out of the island's Naha Airport have been cancelled. |
| Some 200 households are already without electricity, and hundreds of people have taken shelter in public buildings on the island. | Some 200 households are already without electricity, and hundreds of people have taken shelter in public buildings on the island. |
| Trees 'bending' | |
| Hannah Bryan, who is visiting her sister in Okinawa from Britain, told the BBC that she and several others would try to weather the storm in her sister's house. | |
| "We are planning on putting lots of duvets in the middle of the living room and staying together, away from the windows," she said | |
| "It is really windy at the moment and it is getting stronger and stronger. The trees are bending outside." | |
| British tourist Paul Graham, whose flight out of Okinawa has been cancelled, said the streets in Naha were deserted. | |
| "It is quite stormy at the moment, very windy and very wet. There is a canal nearby here, and there is concern about its levels in this weather," he told the BBC. | |
| Typhoon Bolaven comes just after Typhoon Temblin, which has caused widespread damage in Taiwan. | Typhoon Bolaven comes just after Typhoon Temblin, which has caused widespread damage in Taiwan. |
| The latest typhoon is the 15th destructive storm of the season in East Asia. | The latest typhoon is the 15th destructive storm of the season in East Asia. |
| Are you in Okinawa? Are you preparing for the typhoon? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Okinawa? Are you preparing for the typhoon? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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