Japan prepares for Typhoon ‘Vongfong’

Japan is bracing for the arrival of a powerful typhoon, Vongfong, which officials have said will be the strongest storm to hit Japan this year. The storm brought heavy rain and fierce winds to the southern island of Okinawa, causing flight cancellations and power cuts to over 20,000 homes. It is now heading north and is expected to make landfall on Kyushu island on Monday. Earlier this week, typhoon Phanfone killed nine people in Japan. Officials have warned Vongfong could bring high waves, storm surges, flooding and landslides. Storm tracking website Tropical Storm Risk shows Vongfong losing power over the next few days, as it moves northeast along the rest of Japan. It is said to be carrying winds up to 235km/h (145mph), but is moving north slowly, at 15km/h. At least 14 people in Okinawa and Kyushu have already been injured by the strong winds, local reports say, according to BBC.