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| Japan braced for Typhoon Neoguri | Japan braced for Typhoon Neoguri |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Japan is bracing for the arrival of a powerful typhoon fast approaching the southern Okinawa island chain. | Japan is bracing for the arrival of a powerful typhoon fast approaching the southern Okinawa island chain. |
| Typhoon Neoguri was forecast to pass over Okinawa's main island later on Tuesday, with strong winds and rain. | |
| In Okinawa, flights were cancelled and schools shut. Local television footage showed palm trees tossed by wind. | |
| The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said the storm could be one of the strongest to hit Japan, generating waves up to 14m (46ft). | The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said the storm could be one of the strongest to hit Japan, generating waves up to 14m (46ft). |
| "There is a risk of unprecedentedly strong winds and torrential rains. Please refrain from non-essential outdoor activities,'' spokesman Satoshi Ebihara told a news conference on Monday night. | "There is a risk of unprecedentedly strong winds and torrential rains. Please refrain from non-essential outdoor activities,'' spokesman Satoshi Ebihara told a news conference on Monday night. |
| Hundreds of people were evacuated and thousands of households went without power, officials said. | Hundreds of people were evacuated and thousands of households went without power, officials said. |
| Residents have 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. | |
| "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." | |
| Thomas Davidsen, a journalist on Okinawa's Ishigaki island, said: "We'll be having probably some 24 hours of very strong winds and rain. It is not something to be taken lightly but again, keep yourself entertained and if you go outside, be aware of flying objects." | |
| 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. |
| Okinawa, Japan's southern-most prefecture, 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, 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. |
| "I can't stress enough how dangerous this typhoon may be when it hits Okinawa," Commander James Hecker of the 18th Wing said in a statement. | "I can't stress enough how dangerous this typhoon may be when it hits Okinawa," Commander James Hecker of the 18th Wing said in a statement. |
| 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'. |