Millions in Japan told to evacuate as Typhoon Nanmadol approaches

At least four million people in southern Japan have been ordered to evacuate as a powerful typhoon bears down on the region, bringing strong winds and heavy rain that caused electricity blackouts and paralysed ground and air transportation.

The super typhoon was near the southern island of Yakushima, packing maximum surface winds of 162km/h (101mph) as it slowly headed north to Kyushu, the country’s third-largest and southernmost island, where it could make landfall later in the day, the Japan Meteorological Agency said on Sunday.

Nanmadol is forecast to turn east and reach Tokyo on Tuesday.

The NHK broadcaster said local authorities have ordered four million people living on Kyushu to evacuate, with the JMA predicting that the island could receive as much as 500mm (20 inches) of rain and wind gusts of up to 250km/h (155mph).