A large and very strong typhoon is bringing powerful winds and rough seas to Okinawa Prefecture, southwestern Japan.

Japan's Meteorological Agency says that as of 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Typhoon Khanun was estimated to be 110 kilometers west of the prefecture's Kumejima Island. It is moving west-northwest at a speed of 15 kilometers per hour.

The storm was packing winds of up to 162 kilometers per hour near its center, and gusts of up to 234 kilometers per hour.

Okinawa's Tokashikijima Island registered peak gusts of 159 kilometers per hour shortly before 4 p.m., Kumejima airport 155 kilometers per hour shortly before 6 p.m., and Nanjo City 135 kilometers per hour shortly after 4 p.m.
Rain clouds surrounding the typhoon are developing and bringing intermittent heavy rain to Okinawa's main island region.

During the 24-hour period through 4:40 p.m., rainfall had amounted to 266 millimeters in Yomitan Village in the region. Precipitation is the highest for the month of August since record-taking began.

Officials have warned of rising risk of disasters caused by landslides in some regions in the prefecture.

The typhoon is expected to move westward while maintaining its intensity and approach Sakishima Islands.

Maximum wind speeds are expected to be 144 kilometers per hour in the Okinawa region, 90 kilometers per hour in the Amami region.

Peak gusts could be 126 kilometers per hour in the Amami region, and 216 kilometers in the Okinawa region, which is powerful enough to cause some houses to collapse.

Violent winds are forecast for the Okinawa region on Thursday, with winds of up to 108 kilometers per hour and peak gusts of 162 kilometers per hour.

Rough seas are expected, with waves as high as 11 meters in the Okinawa region and 9 meters in the Amami region.
Torrential rain accompanied by thunder could hit the regions, with localized rain topping 50 millimeters per hour in the Okinawa region.

During the 24-hour period through Thursday evening, up to 200 millimeters of rain is forecast for Okinawa and up to 100 millimeters for Amami.

The Okinawa region is expected to have rainfall of up to 150 millimeters during the 24 hours through Friday evening and up to 150 millimeters in the 24 hours through Saturday evening.

Storm surges could be prolonged in the two regions due to the typhoon and coinciding full tides.

Meteorological Agency officials are calling on people in Okinawa to be on alert for violent winds, high waves, storm surges and landslides.
The officials are also warning of flooding in low-lying areas, swollen rivers and flooding.

The typhoon is projected to move westward until Thursday, but is likely to change its course eastward on Friday and beyond.

People are advised to tune into the latest weather information and take shelter in sturdy buildings when they are in the storm zone.

The typhoon has prompted cancelation of transportation services.

Flights to and from Naha and Miyako among others will be canceled on Thursday.

As of 6 p.m. Tuesday, 314 flights were to be canceled, possibly affecting at least 40,000 passengers.

All Nippon Airways will cancel 76 flights, Japan Transocean Air 70 flights, Japan Airlines and Ryukyu Air Commuter 42 flights each, Peach Aviation 34 flights, Skymark Airlines 30 flights, Solaseed Air 12 flights and Jetstar Airways 8 flights.

All ferry services connecting the island of Ishigaki with surrounding islands have been canceled.

Ferry operators say they will make decisions by judging the situation of the ocean. They are asking travelers to stay informed with the latest updates.

Meanwhile, evacuation centers have been set up across Okinawa. But shelters in central Naha are fully occupied, with tourists unable to find a place to stay.

A center at the headquarters of Naha City Hall which can accommodate about 100 people was already full as of Wednesday evening.