A meandering storm is headed again toward south-western Japan, prompting fresh warnings about dangerously heavy rainfall after the same area was hit several days ago.

Tropical Storm Khanun, which means jackfruit in Thai, was returning to the southernmost group of islands of Okinawa moving slowly northward, packing winds of up to 108km/h and hovering over Okinawa through Monday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki warned residents to brace for torrential rains and mudslides.

A main street is deserted as Typhoon Khanun approaches Naha city, Okinawa prefecture, southern Japan, Saturday, August 5, 2023.
A main street is deserted as Typhoon Khanun approaches Naha city in Okinawa. (Kyodo News via AP)

“This could mean that the dangers about to hit the area where you are living are unusual and on a scale you have never experienced,” he said of the storm.

He asked people to prepare escape routes to safety in advance.

“Do not let your guard down,” he said.

Large parts of Okinawa, including the main city of Naha, were being slammed by extremely heavy rainfall, according to weather reports.

The storm hit the same area last week, killing two people, injuring dozens of others and squelching power temporarily to tens of thousands of homes, according to the Okinawa government.

Weather experts said the storm’s wandering path was unusual and that it was moving slowly, affecting a wide area with strong winds and heavy rainfall.

It also appeared to be getting stronger, experts said.

A person stands on a flooded street following heavy rains due to Typhoon Khanun, in Nantou county, Taiwan August 5, 2023.
A flooded street following heavy rains due to Typhoon Khanun, in Nantou county, Taiwan on Saturday. (CTI via REUTERS )

The storm was expected to continue moving northward, possibly making landfall on Japan’s southern major island of Kyushu by Wednesday or Thursday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

Beijing floods

At least 21 dead as massive floods sweep Beijing

Sign up here to receive our daily newsletters and breaking news alerts, sent straight to your inbox.
You May Also Like

Making the U.S. Seafood Industry Great Again?

Nestled between the sob stories from people who claim that the…

1 dead as Florida authorities declare a ‘mass casualty’ in boat crash near Clearwater bridge

One person has died and several were injured Sunday when a boat…

Trump Vows (Yes, in April) to Bring Columbus Day ‘Back from the Ashes,’ and It's Important

Maybe it was because he was just in Rome for the…

Portly Pritzker Putting Rotund Self Front and Center in a Big Way

Alrighty, let me be upfront about this right off the bat…