A large and powerful typhoon approached a remote chain of islands in Japan’s southwest on Friday, prompting authorities to warn of violent winds, torrential rain, landslides and flooding in what could be the region’s most destructive storm in years.
Super Typhoon Bavi is expected to pass very close to Japan’s Sakishima Islands, a remote island chain that is part of Okinawa prefecture, early on Saturday morning, according to meteorological authorities.
Maximum sustained winds were topping out at 162km/h (100mph), and local residents on Ishigaki, one of the islands in the chain, were taping up windows and draping windproof nets across homes and shops.
Airlines grounded dozens of flights in the region. Japan Airlines said it had cancelled more than 100 flights for Friday and Saturday, affecting nearly 20,000 passengers. Rival carrier All Nippon Airways cancelled more than 160 flights through Sunday, disrupting travel for roughly 20,000 people.
Nearly 900 buildings in Okinawa prefecture were without power as of Friday afternoon.
On Ishigaki, a popular tourist destination, residents stocked up on supplies, emptying shelves of instant noodles at a local supermarket. Some public beaches, coastal parks and the local ferry terminal appeared closed.