MAINICHI



 

Japan's weather agency is calling for residents to be vigilant against powerful winds, high tides and landslides as strong Typhoon Chan-hom approaches east of the country's archipelago.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reports that the 14th tropical storm of the year was situated about 340 kilometers east of Amami Oshima off the southwest prefecture of Kagoshima as of 10 a.m. on Oct. 8, and was heading north at a speed of around 15 kilometers per hour. Its central pressure was 970 hectopascals, with a maximum sustained wind speed near its center of 35 meters per second (approximately 126 kph), and a maximum gust speed of 50 m/s (180 kph). Strong winds of at least 25 m/s (90 kph) are lashing areas within a 110-kilometer radius of the core of the typhoon.

Violent winds are expected through Oct. 9 from the Amami area to western and eastern Japan. Due to a high level of activity at the weather front triggered by the storm, areas across west and east Japan are also expected to see heavy rains through Oct. 10.