Japan issues warning for Typhoon Lionrock

TOKyO: Japan braced for a powerful typhoon – the third in little more than a week – and authorities warned of heavy rain, high waves and flooding after the previous storms killed two people.

Typhoon Lionrock, described as “strong”, was likely to come ashore northeast of Tokyo today before cutting across the country’s main island of Honshu and heading out to sea towards Russia and China, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

At 3pm yesterday, Lionrock was 330km east of Hachijo island in the Pacific Ocean southeast of Tokyo, the agency said.

The typhoon, with gusts up to 216kph, was moving northeast at 25kph, the agency said, and was likely to make landfall in northeast Japan today afternoon or evening.

“The most significant factor will be heavy rain,” agency chief forecaster Tsumoru Matsumoto told a press briefing.

“In advance of the typhoon’s approach, we expect heavy rain in wide areas in eastern and northern Japan.”

Authorities have also issued warnings for high waves, strong winds and flooding for the area, saying that those could be upgraded today.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who attended a weekend Africa aid conference in Nairobi, left Kenya hours earlier than planned to get back before the storm hits. — AFP