The typhoon Neoguri lashed out against Japan’s southern Okinawa islands on Tuesday.
The typhoon had gusts of wind of up to 216 kilometres. So far, one person has been reported as dead, and many more have been injured. The 62 year-old man was found dead when he was knocked off his boat in difficult waters.
The typhoon caused over a half a million people out of their homes, heading for shelter. Citizens were urged to evacuate and seek refuge in community centers. Traffic lights went out in the capital, Naha. A restaurant and buildings were destroyed.
“We have no water or electricity, but the gas is still on," said Takuro Ogawa, who lives in Chatan, a town in central Okinawa, according to the Times of India.
The typhoon forced flights to be cancelled from Japan. Authorities in China and Taiwan warned ships to remain out of the storm, according to the BBC.
The Japan Meteorological Agency warned citizens about the typhoon, alerting them about the area around Okinawa. Authorities predicted flooding and landslides in conjunction with the typhoon. Neoguri arrived in Japan less than a year after Typhoon Haiyan created the strongest winds ever in Japan.