Typhoon Neoguri brings heavy rains, gusts to Japan

Heavy rains accompanying a typhoon swept across the southern Japanese island of Okinawa on Wednesday, as authorities warned of flooding, mudslides and swollen rivers in the region.

Hundreds of thousands of residents were advised to evacuate their homes as the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a heavy rain warning for the main island of Okinawa prefecture.

In one hour, rainfall of 96.5 millimetres was recorded in Yomitan village early Wednesday, while 80.5 millimetres was recorded at the airport in the prefectural capital Naha, the agency said.

Typhoon Neoguri left 32 people injured in the prefecture on Tuesday, Okinawa Times reported.

At least one person has died as a result of the storm.

The eye of Neoguri, the eighth typhoon of the season, was over the East China Sea and travelling north at 20 km per hour, the agency said.

The typhoon had weakened since Tuesday, with maximum sustained winds of 126 kph and gusts of 180 kph, the agency said.

Neoguri was projected to make landfall on the southern main island of Kyushu on Thursday.

Rainfall of up to 300 millimetres was forecast for southern Kyushu and the south-western island of Shikoku through Thursday morning and up to 200 millimetres for northern Kyushu, the agency said.