A powerful typhoon hit southern Japan on Sunday resulting into torrential rainfall that grounded hundreds of domestic flights and halted train services. The Japan Meteorological Agency said that Typhoon Talim made a landfall in Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan's four main islands, packing winds of up to 162kph.
According to public broadcaster NHK, at least 644 domestic flights have been cancelled because of strong winds. Meanwhile, operator JR Kyushu Railway said that all major regional train services have been suspended.
The authorities have issued warnings of rainstorms, high seas, possible landslides and flooding across the southern half of the Japanese archipelago.
The typhoon was expected to head northwards dumping heavy rainfall across a large area, including on Tokyo, according to the agency.
Earlier, the typhoon battered the southern Okinawan island chain and dumped the most rain seen over a 24-hour period in 50 years on the city of Miyako, before it hit Kyushu.
Typhoons are quite frequent in Japan. Last September, at least 22 people were killed when Typhoon Lionrock pounded the country. Last month, Typhoon Noru killed two and injured 51.
