A "very powerful" typhoon, Muifa, is approaching several islands in southern Japan on Sunday, leading local authorities to call on residents to take shelter from "waves and strong winds" before it hits. touches the ground.
This Sunday afternoon, the typhoon was 180 kilometers south of Ishigaki (island in the extreme south of the archipelago, not far from Taiwan), causing gusts reaching 216 km / h, and moving towards northwest, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
According to her, “the very powerful typhoon Muifa is expected to approach very close (to the Ishigaki region) on Monday.
Waves and high winds are expected in the area throughout Tuesday.
As the speed of the typhoon's progress could weaken, but not its intensity, "the region could suffer its effects for a long period", she said.
The government of Okinawa - a prefecture comprising more than 150 islands in southern Japan - has asked elderly people living in Ishigaki and other islands in the region to take shelter before the typhoon hits.
"I would like to ask everyone to be alert to high winds, heavy rainfall...and take action to protect lives first," Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki said on Sunday.
After touching Ishigaki, Muifa is expected to head north and Shanghai, China, according to the Japanese agency's forecast.
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