The 14th typhoon of the year was moving west at a speed of about 15 kilometers per hour over the sea south of Japan at 3 a.m. on Sept. 16. It had a central atmospheric pressure of 965 hectopascals. The maximum sustained wind speed near its center is 35 meters per second, or 126 k/h, with peak gusts at 50m/s, or 180 k/h. Violent winds at a speed of 25 m/s, or 90 k/h, or more were recorded within a 150-kilometers radius of the storm's center.

Typhoon Nanmadol is expected to move west as it develops, and head toward the southwest Japan islands and the southern Kyushu region on Sept. 17 while maintaining its strength. After approaching Kyushu on Sept. 18, the storm is predicted to gradually change direction and move east through around Sept. 20. The typhoon threatens wide areas of Japan from the west to the north.

Strong winds are feared in the Okinawa area on Sept. 16, causing rough seas and large swells. In the Amami region, extremely violent winds powerful enough to overturn running trucks and injure people are expected the following day.

Tide levels around the northern Kyushu and west Japan's Chugoku and Shikoku regions will start rising around Sept. 18, and dangerous high tides are feared in some parts of these regions. The JMA is warning people in low lying areas such as near coastlines and river mouths about potential flooding caused by high waves.

The JMA is also calling on people in south Kyushu to be on their guard against landslides and swollen rivers on Sept. 16, as some areas there recently received heavy rainfall before Typhoon Nanmadol developed. ■