Tokyo, Sept 21: A powerful typhoon whirled off of Japan's eastern coast today, bringing strong winds and heavy rains to the capital and surrounding areas. There were no reports of injuries or significant damage. The typhoon, Choi-Wan, was headed northeast, packing winds of up to about 126 kph this morning. It was centered about 310 kilometres off of southwestern Shiono Cape in the Pacific Ocean, the meteorological agency said.
Choi-Wan had been expected to skim past Japan's main island of Honshu, but veered north this afternoon and was headed for the Izu Islands south of Tokyo. The agency warned it could hit the islands by early tomorrow morning, bringing as much as 400 millimetres of rain. Public broadcaster reported that 15 ferry lines, mostly linking the Izu Islands to Honshu, were canceled.
The Izu Islands stretch into the pacific about 116 kilometres south of the capital. Yesterday, dozens of flights were canceled and some 2,000 homes lost power when the typhoon gained strength while passing over the Okinawan Islands, about 1,600 kilometres southwest of Tokyo.
The last typhoon to whirl through the region, Maemi, left at least 96 people dead in South Korea after killing one and injuring more than 90 in southern Japan last month. Bureau Report