Highest typhoon alert in Japan

Tokyo: Japan’s weather agency on Saturday issued its highest alert as Typhoon Halong barrelled towards the southwest of the country, warning of heavy rain and strong winds from a storm that has grounded more than 470 flights.

The warning means that the storm poses a threat to life and could inflict massive damage, the meteorological agency said. The alert was issued for Mie prefecture, some 300 kilometres west of Tokyo.