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Typhoon Neoguri: Japan braces for 'super typhoon' bringing 150mph winds and lashing rain

Typhoon Neoguri has been growing stronger as it travels north

Tuesday 08 July 2014 09:40 BST

Satellite image made available by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on 07 July 2014 showing typhoon Neoguri, the first super typhoon of 2014 heading towards Japan (EPA)

Japan is bracing for a “super typhoon” set to smash into the country with 150mph winds and torrential rain.

Fishermen were filmed winching boats out of the sea on Sunday and people are being warned to stay inside.

Typhoon Neoguri, described as a “once in decade storm", was expected to rip through the Okinawa island chain on Monday, before making landfall on the island of Kyushu as it moves north.

Meteorologists said there had already been gusts over 150mph and the typhoon could get stronger, growing into an “extremely intense” storm by Tuesday.

The Japan Meteorological Agency recorded sustained winds of 110mph on Monday and warned of high tides and lashing rain.

"This storm's characteristic is its strength," one JMA official said, calling on people in Okinawa to evacuate early and take precautions, including staying indoors.

In pictures: Japan braces for 'super typhoon'

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1/12In pictures: Japan braces for 'super typhoon'

In pictures: Japan braces for 'super typhoon'

Japan

Trees have collapsed by strong wind on a street at Naha in Japan's southern island of Okinawa

In pictures: Japan braces for 'super typhoon'

Japan

Roadside trees are blasted by strong winds along relatively empty streets in Naha on Japan's southern island of Okinawa as Typhoon Neoguri hit the area

In pictures: Japan braces for 'super typhoon'

Japan

Powerful Typhoon Neoguri pounded across the southern Japanese islands of Okinawa, as residents took refuge from destructive winds, towering waves and storm surges

In pictures: Japan braces for 'super typhoon'

Japan

A man walks across a road at a pedestrian crossing amidst strong winds caused by Typhoon Neoguri in Naha, on Japan's southern island of Okinawa

In pictures: Japan braces for 'super typhoon'

Japan

Trees have collapsed by strong wind at Naha in Japan's southern island of Okinawa

In pictures: Japan braces for 'super typhoon'

Japan

Super Typhoon Neoguri in the Pacific Ocean, approaching Japan on its northward journey, is seen in an image taken by MTSAT-2 satellite. The powerful typhoon forced Japanese authorities to cancel flights and urge more than 100,000 people to evacuate their homes as the storm threatened to bring torrential rain and high winds to Japan's southern islands

In pictures: Japan braces for 'super typhoon'

Japan

Fishery patrol vessel Yuhzan Maru is moored at a port to take shelter from Typhoon Neoguri in Itoman, on the island of Okinawa

In pictures: Japan braces for 'super typhoon'

Japan

A fire engine on an empty street in central Itoman, on the island of Okinawa

In pictures: Japan braces for 'super typhoon'

Japan

A woman squats down to avoid strong winds brought by Typhoon Neoguri along a street in Naha on Japan's southern island of Okinawa

In pictures: Japan braces for 'super typhoon'

Japan

Vessels are moored at a port to take shelter from Typhoon Neoguri in Itoman, on the island of Okinawa. Residents on southern Japanese islands are advised to be on maximum alert as a powerful typhoon approached the region

In pictures: Japan braces for 'super typhoon'

Japan

Fishing boats are moored at Tomari port in Naha on Japan's southern island of Okinawa as super typhoon Neoguri approaches the region. A super typhoon described as a "once in decades storm" was heading north for Japan, set to rake the southern Okinawa island chain with heavy rain and powerful winds before making landfall on Kyushu, Japan's westernmost main island. Typhoon Neoguri was already gusting at more than 250 km an hour (150 mph) and may pick up still more power as it moves north, growing into an "extremely intense" storm, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said

In pictures: Japan braces for 'super typhoon'

Japan

Men secure a fishing boat at a port as super typhoon Neoguri approaches the region, on Japan's southern island of Miyakojima, Okinawa prefecture

It was not expected to be as strong as Typhoon Haiyan, which killed thousands in the Philippines last year.

Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, which hosts the bulk of the US military presence in Japan, was preparing for damage.

"I can't stress enough how dangerous this typhoon may be when it hits Okinawa," Brigadier General James Hecker wrote on the base's Facebook page. "This is not just another typhoon."

Around two to four typhoons a year make landfall in Japan but they are unusual in July.

Additional reporting by Reuters

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