A strong typhoon that could bring record winds and rain was poised to make a direct hit on Tokyo later Sunday, as authorities issued evacuation warnings amid a risk of high waves, landslides and flooding.
Typhoon Faxai, packing winds of up to 216 kilometres (134 miles) per hour, is forecast to reach coastal areas near Tokyo in the late hours of Sunday into Monday morning, Japan's meteorological agency said.
The storm forced train operators to suspend major lines in the capital during Monday morning rush hours, while grounding more than 170 flights.
"Please be on full alert against gusts and high waves and be vigilant about landslides, floods and swollen rivers," the agency said in a statement.
Meteorological agency official Naoji Nakamura told reporters the typhoon could bring "record" winds and rains.
Eight surfers were rescued amid high waves off Shizuoka in cental Japan after they were swept out to sea, local officials said.
"Two helicopters were dispatched while special rescuers rushed out to sea," a fire department spokesman told AFP.
"We sent two of them to hospital but no one was in danger of dying," he added.
Local authorities in Ebina, west of Tokyo, told more than 3,500 residents living in hillside areas to "swiftly evacuate."
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