Typhoon Goni Hits Southern Japan Islands

Tokyo, Aug. 23 (Jiji Press)--Powerful Typhoon Goni slammed into the islands of Iriomote and Ishigaki in southern Japan's Okinawa Prefecture Sunday night. The Japan Meteorological Agency warned of strong winds, high waves and heavy rain as the 15th typhoon of the season is expected to approach the main island of Okinawa on Monday. The typhoon registered a maximum instantaneous wind speed of 71.0 meters per second on Ishigaki, the strongest on record there. A rainfall of 65.0 millimeters per hour was observed on the island. At least 100 people took shelter across Okinawa, including 52 residents and tourists on Ishigaki, according to prefectural government officials and other sources. There are reports of some injuries, Ishigaki officials said. A total of about 21,500 houses on Ishigaki and some other places briefly lost power supply, according to Okinawa Electric Power Co. <9511>. At 11 p.m. (2 p.m. GMT), the typhoon was heading north-northeast near Ishigaki at a speed of 15 kilometers per hour, with a central atmospheric pressure of 940 hectopascals. The storm is projected to go near the country's main island of Kyushu on Tuesday. END