TOKYO, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Bavi, a powerful typhoon, lashed Japan's southern island prefecture of Okinawa on Saturday, canceling flights and prompting the weather agency to warn of landslides and flooding.
The typhoon was forecast to bring violent winds strong enough to topple houses, as well as high waves and storm surges, putting coastal and riverside low-lying areas at risk of flooding, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Bavi is expected to pass through the remote Sakishima Islands in Okinawa before moving away from Japan.
As of 6 a.m. local time Saturday, the season's ninth typhoon was moving at around 20 km per hour (kph) east-southwest of Miyako Island in Okinawa, packing winds of up to 216 kph. ■
