Typhoon bears down on Japan, will hinder voting in national election

Supporters of Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is also ruling Liberal Democratic Party leader, wait for him at an election campaign rally in Tokyo, Japan October 18, 2017. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

TOKYO (Reuters) - Typhoon Lan with heavy rains and destructive winds is expected to hit southern Japan on Sunday when the nation holds a national election, forcing officials in Okinawa to stage voting a day early on some remote islands.

The Category 1 typhoon, located east of the Philippines on Friday morning and moving north, is expected to gain strength as it comes some 200 km (125 miles) east of Japan's southern island of Okinawa by Sunday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.