Strong typhoon Chaba approaches rain-hit Amami region in Japan

A strong typhoon, moving northward with winds of over 90 kilometers per hour, approached the disaster-hit Amami island region in Kagoshima Prefecture on Friday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. Typhoon Chaba, the 14th typhoon this year, has weakened its force but may approach and make landfall on Japan's main Honshu island Saturday, the weather agency said. The city government of Amami called on the locals through a community wireless system to seek early refuge. It also took other disaster- prevention measures such as closing all elementary and junior high schools and piling sandbags on places hit by earlier mudslides.

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