Japan's Okinawa expected to see rough seas, strong winds as another typhoon approaches

Japan's southern island prefecture of Okinawa is expected to experience rough seas and strong winds from Sunday onward as another typhoon approaches, just days after Typhoon Dujuan wreaked havoc in areas near Tokyo, local media reported Saturday.

As of 9 a.m. local time on Saturday, Typhoon Surigae, the 26th of the season, was over the waters south of Okinawa and moving northwest at a speed of 10 km per hour (kph). It had a central atmospheric pressure of 996 hectopascals, packing maximum gusts of 126 kph, public broadcaster NHK reported, citing the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The typhoon is expected to strengthen as it moves northward and approaches Okinawa. Winds in the prefecture are likely to intensify gradually, with very strong winds and rough seas possible on Sunday. Residents are urged to remain alert for high waves and take extra precautions as weather conditions deteriorate.

Meanwhile, rain is expected across a wide area from eastern to western Japan on Saturday due to a seasonal rain front. People, particularly in the Kanto region of eastern Japan, are urged to remain vigilant against landslides and other disasters.

The Kanto region had already been hit hard by Typhoon Dujuan earlier this week.

The season's 25th typhoon approached Japan's eastern Pacific coast on Monday, triggering record rainfall, landslides and river flooding and wreaking havoc in areas near Tokyo.

By Friday night, the storm had left 12 people dead and three others missing in Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures, while around 9,000 households in the two prefectures remained without power. Landslides and fallen trees blocked roads across wide areas, delaying recovery work and preventing crews in some locations from even inspecting damaged facilities, according to Kyodo News.