TOKYO, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Typhoon Kong-rey has battered southern regions of Japan including the southern islands of Okinawa, the weather agency said Friday, with the powerful typhoon expected to wreak havoc as it continues north over the weekend.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), 108 km per hour winds were clocked in Okinawa's prefectural capital of Naha, with the typhoon dumping 30 to 50 millimeters of rain per hour in some south and southwestern prefectures.
At least 10 people have been injured by the second typhoon to hit the region in less than a week, according to local reports, and in the Amami Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture, more than 1,000 households had their power knocked out as a result of the typhoon.
Airlines have been forced to cancel around 200 domestic flights to and from Okinawa and most sea-based transportation services to and from the main and surrounding southern islands have been suspended, local media reported.
Strong winds and heavy downpours are expected to hit northern Kyushu and Shikoku in the 24-hour period through Saturday noon, the JMA said.
The weather agency said Kong-rey, the season's 25th typhoon, is forecast to travel over the Sea of Japan and approach northern Japan on Sunday.
