Japan issues emergency warnings issued for Kagoshima as typhoon nears

TOKYO, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) — Japan’s weather agency on Wednesday issued emergency warnings for storms and high waves in Kagoshima prefecture, calling for top-level alerts among local residents as powerful typhoon Shanshan approaches southwestern Japan.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) told a press conference that the maximum alert was issued due to unprecedented storms and expected record-breaking rainfalls.
It also noted the possibility of issuing a heavy rain emergency warning for the prefectures of Kagoshima and Miyazaki.
As of Wednesday noon, the 10th typhoon of the year was located 90 kilometers south-southwest of Yakushima Island in Kagoshima prefecture and slowly moving northward.
It had a central pressure of 935 hectopascals, packing winds at a maximum speed of 180 kph around its center, and a maximum instantaneous wind speed of 252 kph.
The JMA also called for extreme precautions against windstorms, landslides, flooding and overflowing rivers. ■