Powerful typhoon nears southern Japan

Tokyo, Jul 7: A powerful typhoon was nearing Japan's southern island chain of Okinawa today, likely bringing strong winds and torrential rain to the area later in the day, Japan's Meteorological Agency said.

Typhoon Ewiniar, whose name means ''storm god'' in the Chuuk language of Micronesia, was south of Okinawa and moving slowly north-northwest early today, bringing with it winds of up to 160 km per hour, the agency said.

The agency 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