Severe Tropical Storm Khanun is expected to approach Japan's southwestern region of Kyushu on Wednesday.
Weather officials are urging people in a wide area to stay on the alert.

The Japan Meteorological Agency says Khanun is moving slowly over waters off Amami Oshima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture. It says the maximum wind speed near the center of the storm was over 100 kilometers per hour as of 4 a.m. on Tuesday.

Bands of active rain clouds could develop in the Amami region and in southern Kyushu through Tuesday night.
Record-breaking precipitation could hit the Pacific side of western and eastern Japan through Thursday.

Violent winds and high waves are also expected. Weather officials are calling on people to be on high alert for landslides, flooding in low-lying areas and overflowing rivers.

People living even far away from the storm's path are advised to make early preparations, including checking hazard maps.