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Typhoon Neoguri lashes Japan's Okinawa Japan's Okinawa lashed by Typhoon Neoguri
(about 1 hour later)
Hundreds of thousands of people have been urged to seek shelter as a powerful typhoon lashes Japan's Okinawa island chain. A powerful typhoon has lashed Japan's Okinawa island chain, forcing hundreds of thousands to seek shelter.
Typhoon Neoguri was passing over the southern islands on Tuesday, bringing strong wind and torrential rain. Typhoon Neoguri passed over the islands on Tuesday, bringing torrential rain and winds carrying gusts of up to 252km/h (151 mph).
Forecasters said it generated winds of up to 252km/h (151 mph) and warned of high waves. Flights and some ferry services were suspended, while schools were shut. The winds uprooted trees and tore wooden buildings from their foundations.
Flights have been cancelled and schools shut. Local television footage showed palm trees being tossed by the wind. Local officials said at least four people were injured.
Local authorities urged some 480,000 residents across Okinawa to stay at home or move to community centres for shelter. About 590,000 local residents across Okinawa were advised to stay at home or move to community centres for shelter.
Okinawa police said at least three people, including an 83-year-old woman, were injured. A 62-year-old fisherman was also reported missing, maritime officials said. Flood risk
"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. The typhoon is now headed over the East China Sea and is weakening.
More than 50,000 households were reported to be without power, and one oil refinery has halted operations. Japan's weather agency lifted some of the storm and high-wave warnings issued for Okinawa on Tuesday evening, Kyodo news agency reported.
However, forecasters say the typhoon is expected to reach the southern Japanese island of Kyushu, where it could bring heavy rain and the risk of flooding.
Authorities in China and Taiwan also warned ships to stay clear of the storm.Authorities in China and Taiwan also warned ships to stay clear of the storm.
'Branches flying' In the Okinawan capital, Naha, streets were empty and the airport closed, the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Tokyo reports.
Residents have also been bracing 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. Okinawans know about typhoons and most of them had heeded government warnings to stay inside or seek shelter in evacuation centres, our correspondent adds.
"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." Two people, a 62-year-old man and an 81-year-old fisherman, were found dead, AFP news agency reported, citing police and local media.
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. More than 50,000 households were reported to be without power, and one oil refinery halted operations.
Officers have evacuated some aircraft from Kadena Air Base in preparation for Typhoon Neoguri's arrival. Earlier on Tuesday, Kathryn Spoor, who lives in Okinawa, told the BBC that most of the people who needed to evacuate had done so already.
Lieutenant Erik Anthony, near Kadena Air Base, said winds were starting to pick up. Okinawa, Japan's southern-most prefecture that comprises several islands, is home to major US bases. About 26,000 US troops are stationed there under a long-standing security alliance.
"Trees are bending and you can see branches flying across the street, garbage and trash rolling down the road," he told the BBC. Officers had evacuated some aircraft from Kadena Air Base in preparation for Typhoon Neoguri's arrival.
"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.
In the last few hours, the storm has been downgraded from "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'.
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