Powerful typhoon hits southern Japan disrupting traffic

TOKYO (AP) - A powerful typhoon hit southern Japan on Thursday, disrupting traffic and drenching a wide region, officials said.

Typhoon Usagi was located about 170 kilometers (105 miles) southeast of Miyazaki City on Japan's southern island of Kyushu as of Thursday morning with maximum sustained winds of 162 kilometers (100 miles) per hour, the Japan Meteorological Agency said in a statement. Miyazaki is 893 kilometers (558 miles) southwest of Tokyo.

Usagi, which means "rabbit" in Japanese, was moving north-norhtwest and expected to hit a wider area of Kyushu and Shikoku islands later in the day, the agency said.

The agency warned of heavy rains, high waves and strong winds.

The typhoon forced airline companies to cancel more than 140 flights. Japan Airlines Corp. and its subsidiary grounded 79 flights, affecting about 3,800 passengers, according to company spokeswoman Yumi Iwashita.

All Nippon Airways Co. and its subsidiaries canceled 62 flights, affecting about 7,900 passengers, said company spokeswoman Keiko Ninomiya.

Ferry services were also suspended, public broadcaster NHK said. About 1,600 homes in the typhoon-hit region were without power as of Thursday morning, Kyodo News agency said.

Usagi is expected to lose strength a little as it moves northward and to hit a wider area of Kyushu and Shikoku island, the agency said.

Up to 40 centimeters (16 inches) of rain was forecast in some regions.