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KAGOSHIMA (Japan), Sept. 6 (AFP): A powerful typhoon headed south of Japan on Sunday, bringing violent winds and heavy rain and authorities warned it could be strong enough to break power poles and overturn vehicles. .
Typhoon Haishen, categorized as “large” and “extremely strong”, was expected to pass through the Amami region of small islands near Kyushu that separate the Pacific Ocean and the East China Sea in the afternoon.
At 8:00 a.m. (2300 GMT Saturday), Haishen was about 150 km (93 miles) southeast of Amami Oshima Island, with gusts of up to 252 km (157 miles) per hour.
The storm was forecast to head north and travel off the western coast of Kyushu, one of Japan’s main islands, from overnight until early Monday morning before reaching South Korea, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. .
Once the storm approaches inhabited islands, its violent winds could become strong enough to break power poles and capsize vehicles, forecasters warned.
More than 200,000 Kyushu residents were advised Sunday morning to seek safety in the shelters, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
Rather than going to designated school schools and community centers, some residents have chosen to seek safety at local hotels to try to reduce the risk of coronavirus infections in crowded public shelters, according to local media.
The storm forced the cancellation of 528 flights, according to the national broadcaster NHK.
Toyota said it would suspend operations at three plants in Kyushu until Monday night, while other companies, including Canon and Mitsubishi Electric, reportedly planned to take similar steps.
Haishen also forced the Japanese coast guard to suspend its search for dozens of missing sailors from a cargo ship that sank in a separate storm, after two crew members were rescued.
Gulf Livestock 1, carrying 6,000 cows and 43 crew, issued a distress call on Wednesday near Amami Oshima as Typhoon Maysak passed through the area.
But the patrol boats have remained at sea so the search can resume after Haishen has left the region, a duty official said. – AFP
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