Typhoon wrecks Okinawa

Path of destruction: Damaged buildings and blocked roads as a result of the typhoon in Naha, capital of Okinawa prefecture, Japan. — AP

TOKYO: Typhoon Khanun pounded Japan’s southwestern Okinawa and Kagoshima prefectures with heavy rain and gusty winds for a second straight day, leaving two dead and moving so slowly its damaging impact could be prolonged.

Khanun, which means “jackfruit” in Thai, was heading slowly north-west in the East China Sea as of yesterday afternoon, with sustained winds of 162kph and gusts of up to 234kph, the Japan Meteorological Agency said, adding that they no longer forecast it to directly hit China.