Super typhoon "Neoguri" paralyzed transportation and knocked out power for thousands on the southern Japanese islands of Okinawa on Tuesday, the Associated Press reported, leaving one person dead and 17 people injured.
As one of the strongest typhoons to strike during Japan's summer, with sustained winds of 162 kilometers (100 miles) per hour and gusts up to 216 kph (134 mph) in late evening, more than 500,000 people were urged to evacuate their homes, the Okinawan government said. An unidentified man died after his fishing boat was swamped by high waves off Kyushu island, NHK national television said. Several people suffered minor injuries from falls.
Although the storm was weakening, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) warned that its wide area and slow movement could add to the potential damage. Torrential rains could also cause greater damage if the typhoon moves across the Japanese islands as expected on Thursday or Friday. "Please refrain from nonessential activities and from approaching hazardous areas," said Meteorological Agency official Satoshi Ebihara. "Please show extreme caution."
Additionally, local airports were closed, with many people staying put and taking refuge in their homes from the destructive winds of waves up to 14 meters (46 feet) high and storm surges that were set to intensify as the storm passed the main island of Okinawa in the evening and headed north toward Kyushu. Almost 100,000 homes remained out of electricity late Tuesday.
"More than half of the 50,000 U.S. troops in Japan are based in Okinawa, the location of several bases, including Kadena, the biggest U.S. air base in Asia. An advisory on its website said all outdoor activity was prohibited due to the storm," according to the AP.
Television footage showed a shattered building, damaged storefronts and trees toppled as winds picked up in the Okinawan capital of Naha. According to Reuters, a JMA official said the storm will maintain its strength as it heads north but gradually turn to the east, making landfall in Kyushu before making its way up the main island of Honshu and coming close to Tokyo on Friday. "But it will be weaker by then, so that Tokyo can mainly expect a lot of rain, and maybe some gusts of wind," he added.
Neoguri is a Korean word meaning "raccoon dog," a knee-high animal that looks like a cross between a dog and a raccoon but is a separate species common in East Asia.
