Typhoon Jelawat bears down on Japanese mainland

TOKYO (AFP) -- The Japanese mainland braced for Typhoon Jelawat on Sunday amid warnings of landslides, floods and monster waves, a day after it injured scores of people on southern Okinawa island.

The powerful typhoon was expected to hit the western region of the main island Honshu and move towards central areas, including Tokyo, later in the day, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

Jelawat, about 60 kilometres (37 miles) south-southwest of the southern tip of Wakayama prefecture at 2:00 pm (0500 GMT), was moving northeast, packing winds of up to 216 kilometres per hour, the agency said.

It warned high waves up to 10 metres (33 feet) could hit islands and the pacific coast near the capital, while rainfall of 40 centimetres was expected in some areas in the next 24 hours.

At least 101 people were injured in southern Okinawa and Kagoshima prefectures and air and train travel were disrupted after the typhoon hit the area Saturday with winds strong enough to flip cars, public broadcaster NHK said.