Typhoon Kong-rey approaches Japan days after deadly storm

Tropical cyclone is third to hit country in a month

Typoon Kong-rey pictured over the Philippines Sea in a satellite image (Nasa)

Typhoon Kong-rey is set to lash southern Japan with winds of up to 112mph, forecasters have warned, days after another storm left four people dead.

Lightning strikes and heavy downpours are predicted by the country's Meteorological Agency, as the storm approaches the southern Okinawa islands.

It said they could be hit with maximum sustained winds of 78mph per hour and gusts of up to 112 mph.

Some parts of Okinawa and other small southern islands are already seeing rain, wind and high surf, which has led to a number of flights being cancelled at it's main airport in the city of Naha.

The storm is then expected to sweep into South Korea and north Japan.

Kong-rey is the 25^th tropical cyclone in the Pacific this year and the third to hit Japan in less than a month.

Last week typhoon Trami killed four people and wreaked havoc with the country's transport and power networks.

Forecasters had warned that Kong-rey could have a similar impact, although the storm was downgraded from a super typhoon on Wednesday.

Buildings already weakened by Trami are feared to be particularly at risk of damage from the latest storm.

“It could damage infrastructure and bring a risk to life, mainly as a consequence of flooding and landslides," said Richard Miles, a spokesman for the UK's Met Office.