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| Japan braced for Typhoon Neoguri | Japan braced for Typhoon Neoguri |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of thousands of people have been urged to seek shelter as a powerful typhoon passes over Japan's Okinawa island chain. | Hundreds of thousands of people have been urged to seek shelter as a powerful typhoon passes over Japan's Okinawa island chain. |
| Typhoon Neoguri was due to pass over Okinawa's main island later on Tuesday, with strong winds and torrential rain. | Typhoon Neoguri was due to pass over Okinawa's main island later on Tuesday, with strong winds and torrential rain. |
| Forecasters said it generated winds of up to 252 kilometres per hour (151 mph) and warned of high waves. | |
| Flights have been cancelled and schools shut. Local television footage showed palm trees being tossed by strong wind. | |
| Local authorities urged some 480,000 residents across Okinawa to stay at home or move to community centres for shelter. | Local authorities urged some 480,000 residents across Okinawa to stay at home or move to community centres for shelter. |
| Four people, including an 83-year-old woman, were injured and a fisherman was reported missing, government officials said. | |
| "There is a risk of unprecedentedly strong winds and torrential rains. Please refrain from non-essential outdoor activities,'' Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) spokesman Satoshi Ebihara told a news conference on Monday night. | |
| More than 50,000 households were reported to be without power, and one oil refinery has halted operations. | More than 50,000 households were reported to be without power, and one oil refinery has halted operations. |
| 'Branches flying' | |
| Residents have also been bracing themselves for rough weather. | |
| Kathryn Spoor, who lives in Okinawa, told the BBC that most of the people who needed to evacuate had done so already. | Kathryn Spoor, who lives in Okinawa, told the BBC that most of the people who needed to evacuate had done so already. |
| "Right now we do have a lot of wind and rain," she said. "We have showers coming in and gusts in my area are at about 143 kilometres per hour right now so it is definitely a dangerous situation." | "Right now we do have a lot of wind and rain," she said. "We have showers coming in and gusts in my area are at about 143 kilometres per hour right now so it is definitely a dangerous situation." |
| Okinawa, Japan's southern-most prefecture that comprises several islands, is home to major US bases. Around 26,000 US troops are stationed there under a long-standing security alliance. | Okinawa, Japan's southern-most prefecture that comprises several islands, is home to major US bases. Around 26,000 US troops are stationed there under a long-standing security alliance. |
| Officers have evacuated some aircraft from Kadena Air Base in preparation for Typhoon Neoguri's arrival. | Officers have evacuated some aircraft from Kadena Air Base in preparation for Typhoon Neoguri's arrival. |
| Lieutenant Erik Anthony, near Kadena Air Base, said winds were starting to pick up. | Lieutenant Erik Anthony, near Kadena Air Base, said winds were starting to pick up. |
| "Trees are bending and you can see branches flying across the street, garbage and trash rolling down the road," he told the BBC. | "Trees are bending and you can see branches flying across the street, garbage and trash rolling down the road," he told the BBC. |
| "But I haven't seen any major damage as of yet and the communication is still up, which is a huge priority here on Okinawa. | "But I haven't seen any major damage as of yet and the communication is still up, which is a huge priority here on Okinawa. |
| Urging residents to remain on maximum alert, JMA warned of the possibility that Typhoon Neoguri could move north to Japan's main island of Honshu. | Urging residents to remain on maximum alert, JMA warned of the possibility that Typhoon Neoguri could move north to Japan's main island of Honshu. |
| In the last few hours, the storm has been downgraded from its "super-typhoon" status, reports the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Tokyo, and as it crosses in to the East China Sea it is expected to weaken further. | |
| But Typhoon Neoguri is still carrying a huge amount of moisture. When it hits the mainland much of that will be released as rain, which could unleash flash floods and trigger landslides, our correspondent adds. | |
| Are you in Okinawa? What preparations have you made for the typhoon? You can email your comments to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject line 'Typhoon Neoguri'. | Are you in Okinawa? What preparations have you made for the typhoon? You can email your comments to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject line 'Typhoon Neoguri'. |
| 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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