Typhoon Muifa hits Japan's Okinawa

Typhoon Muifa was over waters 30 km south of Ishigaki Island with an atmospheric pressure of 955 hectopascals at its center and maximum wind speeds of up to 216 km per hour, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).

The JMA, along with warning residents in the typhoon's path to remain vigilant for landslides and rivers breaching their banks, also said the typhoon is packing winds strong enough to damage if not topple homes.

The slow-moving typhoon, the 12th of this season, is expected to continue to bring severe weather conditions to the Sakishima Islands through Wednesday as it moves northward, the JMA said.

On Hateruma Island, a record 352.5 millimeters of rainfall was recorded.

Up to 70 millimeters of rainfall per hour is expected in the Sakishima Islands Monday, while 42 millimeters of rainfall per hour is expected to hit Ishigaki, the agency said.

The JMA said the atmospheric pressure is extremely unstable as a result of the typhoon, wind speeds might fall to 72 to 108 km per hour Wednesday, and Okinawa could see as much as 300 millimeters of rainfall in the 24-hour period through noon on Tuesday.

In the 24-hour period though noon on Wednesday, 50 to 100 millimeters of rain is expected, the weather agency said.

The typhoon has caused disruption to transportation services in the region, with Japan's two top carriers Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways canceling flights to and from the popular tourist destinations of Miyako and Ishigaki islands.