Typhoon Malou approaches Japan's main islands
Tokyo - Typhoon Malou was moving towards Japan's main islands Wednesday with weather authorities warning of flooding, mudslides and heavy rain in a large swath of the country.
The season's 13th typhoon was expected to bring torrential rain and strong winds to western and southern Japan after dumping heavy rainfall on Okinawa and Amami Oshima islands Tuesday.
Rainfall of 214.5 millimetres per day was recorded on Miyako Island, and Ishigaki Island received rainfall of 119 millimetres as the typhoon passed near the islands on Tuesday, Okinawa's Ryukyu Shimpo newspaper reported.
As of 9 am (0000 GMT), the eye of the storm was 100 kilometres south of Tanegashima Island, travelling east-north-east at 30 kilometres per hour (km/h), with maximum sustained winds of 64.8 km/h and gusts of 90 km/h, the agency said.
Last week Typhoon Lionrock lashed north-eastern Japan and the northern island of Hokkaido, leaving 18 dead and nine missing.
At least 270 residents remained stranded in Iwate prefecture as of Tuesday night, where the storm triggered landslides and flooding, broadcaster NHK reported.
- DPA