Typhoon Jangmi to approach western, eastern Japan after battering Kyushu

TOKYO, June 2 (Xinhua) -- A severe tropical storm passed near the southern part of Kyushu, the main island in southwestern Japan, on Tuesday and is approaching the Pacific side of western and eastern Japan, according to the weather agency.

As of 7 p.m. local time, Typhoon Jangmi, the season's sixth typhoon, was located around 80 kilometers east-southeast of Miyazaki City in the Kyushu region and moving northeast at a speed of about 40 kilometers per hour, packing winds of up to 126 kph, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said.

Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures observed torrential rainfall, with Miyazaki City logging over 300 millimeters of heavy rain in a 24-hour period, the JMA said.

In the city of Nichinan, Miyazaki Prefecture, the JMA issued a level 4 flood warning for the Hiroto River after heavy rains caused water levels to rise dangerously high. Under a level 4 flood warning, all residents in dangerous areas are urged to evacuate.

Jangmi injured at least 16 people in the southern island prefecture of Okinawa and left nearly 48,000 homes in Okinawa and Kagoshima prefectures without power, Kyodo News reported.

Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways have cancelled more than 580 domestic and international flights on Wednesday, expected to affect around 80,000 people, the report said.

Weather officials also warned people in southern Kyushu, Shikoku, Kinki and Tokai regions covering southwestern, western and central parts of the country that there are risks of landslides and flooding in low-lying areas. Enditem