Japan issues rare special warning as ‘violent’ Typhoon Nanmadol approaches Kyushu

A large and powerful typhoon — which has rapidly intensified and gained the Meteorological Agency’s highest classification of “violent” — prompted the agency to issue a rare special warning for Kagoshima Prefecture, meaning a large-scale disaster could be imminent in the southwestern prefecture.

Typhoon Nanmadol — on par with a Category 5 hurricane in strength — is forecast to reach the island of Kyushu this weekend and then curve northeast over Japan’s main islands, delivering unprecedented winds, waves and storm surges to some areas.