Japan Hit by Strongest Typhoon in 25 Years

Japan has been hit by its strongest typhoon in 25 years, with officials warning more than a million people to evacuate their homes.

Typhoon Jebi made landfall in western areas, bringing heavy rain and reports of winds up to 172 km/h, BBC reported.

In Osaka Bay it swept a tanker into a bridge and in Kyoto parts of a railway station roof came down.

Kyodo news says at least two people have been killed by the storm, which is expected to weaken as it moves north.

The storm made landfall on Shikoku island around noon on Tuesday local time and then moved across Japan’s largest main island of Honshu.

There are warnings of high waves, flooding and mudslides. It has already left tens of thousands without power and authorities have urged people to move to safety.

Jebi is the first typhoon classed as “very strong” by the country’s weather agency to make landfall on Japan’s main islands since a typhoon left 48 people dead or missing in 1993, Kyodo reports.

Hundreds of flights, trains and ferries had to be canceled. Flooding covered the runways at Kansai International Airport in Osaka.

Universal Studios Japan, a popular amusement park near Osaka, was closed.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe convened an emergency meeting and called on people “to take action to protect your lives, including preparing and evacuating early.”

Footage from the storm making landfall showed giant waves crashing against the coastline, and flying debris.

Japan’s weather agency has warned of possible landslides, flooding and violent winds, as well as high tides, lightning and tornadoes in the areas affected.