Powerful Typhoon Hits Southern Japan

TOKYO (AP) _ A powerful typhoon hit southern Japan on Thursday, injuring at least five people, disrupting traffic and drenching a wide region. <br/><br/>Typhoon Usagi was moving north of Miyazaki city

Thursday, August 2nd 2007, 6:30 am

By: News On 6

TOKYO (AP) _ A powerful typhoon hit southern Japan on Thursday, injuring at least five people, disrupting traffic and drenching a wide region.

Typhoon Usagi was moving north of Miyazaki city on Japan's southern island of Kyushu as of early Thursday evening, with maximum sustained winds of 89 miles per hour, the Japan Meteorological Agency said in a statement.

Five people have been injured _ including four seriously _ in Miyazaki state, according to local official Shiro Hamasuna.

Usagi, which means ``rabbit'' in Japanese, was moving north-northwest and expected to hit the 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 also were suspended, public broadcaster NHK said.

About 28,500 homes in the typhoon-hit region were without power as of Thursday, according to Kyushu Electric Power Co.

Up to 14 inches of rain was forecast for some regions