Satoshi Ebihara

A weakened typhoon slammed into Japan early Sunday as the country headed into a holiday week, causing authorities to order the evacuation of half a million people living near swollen rivers and canceling hundreds of flights.

Japan braced on Tuesday for one of its worst storms in years as typhoon Neoguri barrelled towards the southern Okinawa island chain, with the national weather agency issuing its highest alert and nearly half-a-million people urged to take shelter.

A weakened typhoon slammed into Japan early Sunday as the country headed into a holiday week, causing authorities to order the evacuation of half a million people living near swollen rivers and canceling hundreds of flights.

Japan braced on Tuesday for one of its worst storms in years as typhoon Neoguri barrelled towards the southern Okinawa island chain, with the national weather agency issuing its highest alert and nearly half-a-million people urged to take shelter.