Typhoon Nari Expected to Approach Japan’s Okinawa

Text of report in English by Japanese news agency Kyodo

Tokyo, Sept. 14 Kyodo – A powerful typhoon travelling northward in the Pacific Ocean is expected to approach the main island of Okinawa on Friday night, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

Typhoon Nari, referred to in Japan as this year’s Typhoon No 11, could trigger landslides by bringing strong winds and rain in Okinawa, the agency warned.

At 5 p.m., Nari was located in the Pacific about 110 kilometres south of Naha, moving west-northwest at 20 km per hour. It had an atmospheric pressure of 955 hectopascals at its centre, packing winds of up to 216 kph near its centre.

The agency said the typhoon is likely to move to within a radius of 110 km centring on a point about 90 km south-southwest of Naha at 9 p.m. Friday, and to within a radius of 170 km centring on a point about 80 km northwest of Kume Island, Okinawa Prefecture, at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Heavy rain is also expected in areas facing the Pacific in the Tokai and Kyushu regions due to the effects of humid air from the southeast, the agency said.

During the 24 hours to noon Saturday, rainfall of up to 200 millimetres is forecast in Okinawa, 150 mm in Kyushu and Tokai, and 120 mm in areas facing the Pacific in the Shikoku and southern Kinki regions.

Originally published by Kyodo News Service, Tokyo, in English 0858 14 Sep 07.

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