Powerful typhoon nears southern Japan

TOKYO - A powerful typhoon was nearing Japan's southern island chain of Okinawa today and was likely to bring strong winds and torrential rain to the area later, Japan's Meteorological Agency said.

Typhoon Ewiniar, meaning "storm god" in the Chuuk language of Micronesia, was south of Okinawa and moving slowly north-northwest early on Friday local time, bringing with it winds of up to 160km per hour, the agency said.

It warned of heavy rain and flooding in parts of Okinawa. The storm was forecast to weaken slightly and move across the southern part of South Korea over the weekend, the agency said.

- REUTERS