In Pics: Typhoon Vongfong hits Japan

New Delhi: Typhoon Vongfong was downgraded to a tropical storm as it hit the Japanese island of Kyushu after battering the southern island of Okinawa, which is home to the U.S. military's Kadena Air Base.At least 37 people were injured. Authorities also advised 400,000 people to evacuate. Train service and flights were disrupted in Kyushu and the neighboring island of Shikoku. Japan's Meteorological Agency said the storm could reach the Tokyo area by early Tuesday.Pedestrians struggle as Typhoon Vongfong delivered strong winds and driving rain in Himeji, Japan, on Monday.Powerful typhoon Vongfong slammed into Japan on Monday morning, with at least one person missing and dozens injured while more than 300 flights were grounded, officials and local media said.Winds of up to 180 kilometres (112 miles) per hour whipped ashore as the typhoon made landfall in Makurazaki on Kyushu island at around 8:30 am (2330 GMT), the meteorological agency said. Three Chinese people were engulfed by high waves triggered by the typhoon in Shizuoka, central Japan, yesterday afternoon, Japan's public broadcaster NHK and the Mainichi Shimbun said, adding that two of them were rescued but one was still missing.NHK also said at least 44 people were injured in typhoon-related accidents, while Japanese airlines cancelled at least 329 flights. The typhoon came just a week after another strong tropical storm whipped through the country, leaving 11 people dead or missing.Vongfong became the second severe storm to hit in a week.On Sunday, at least 35 people have been reported injured in Okinawa and Kyushu, where authorities told 150,000 people to evacuate, as the typhoon toppled trees, flooded streets and cut power to more than 60,000 homes.Typhoon Vongfong, packing winds of up to 180 kilometers (110 miles) per hour, has been downgraded from a “super-typhoon” and was on course to reach Kyushu by Monday. Japan's Meteorological Agency said it could reach the Tokyo area Tuesday, gradually losing strength as it moves up the archipelago.Authorities issued landslide warnings and strong winds knocked out power lines, temporarily halting bullet train service for several hours on Kyushu.Last week's typhoon killed three U.S. airmen who were washed out at sea in Okinawa, home to about half of the roughly 50,000 American troops stationed in Japan.The U.S. military instructed service personnel and their families to remain indoors Sunday until strong winds and rain subsided and said crews were out to assess damage, including broken glass and toppled power lines.A powerful typhoon poured heavy rains over Japan's southern island of Okinawa and was aiming at the next island of Kyushu on Sunday, becoming the second severe storm to hit in a week.At least 35 people have been reported injured in Okinawa and Kyushu, where authorities told 150,000 people to evacuate, as the typhoon toppled trees, flooded streets and cut power to more than 60,000 homes.Typhoon Vongfong, packing winds of up to 180 kilometers (110 miles) per hour, has been downgraded from a "super-typhoon" and was on course to reach Kyushu by Monday. Japan's Meteorological Agency said it could reach the Tokyo area Tuesday, gradually losing strength as it moves up the archipelago.Authorities issued landslide warnings and strong winds knocked out power lines, temporarily halting bullet train service for several hours on Kyushu.Last week's typhoon killed three U.S. airmen who were washed out at sea in Okinawa, home to about half of the roughly 50,000 American troops stationed in Japan.The U.S. military instructed service personnel and their families to remain indoors Sunday until strong winds and rain subsided and said crews were out to assess damage, including broken glass and toppled power lines.