Authorities have urged 3 million people to evacuate as Typhoon Nanmodule continues to grow in southwestern Japan, leaving thousands in shelters.
According to the French news agency AFP, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has issued a 'special warning' for the Kagoshima region in southern Kyushu prefecture.
As of Sunday morning, 25,680 families in Kagoshima and Miyazaki were already without power, local transport officials said, while regional train service, flights and ships have been canceled until the storm passes.
Japan's meteorological agency JMA has warned that the region could face an "unprecedented" threat from strong winds, storm surges and torrential rains.
"Extreme caution is needed, this is a very dangerous storm," said Ryuta Korora, head of JMA's forecasting unit.
According to the government's Fire and Disaster Management Agency, evacuation warnings have been issued to 2.9 million citizens of Kyushu so far.
More than 8,500 people were already in local shelters as of Sunday morning, Kagoshima officials said.
Ryota Korora has urged people to leave before the worst of the storm hits. He warned that even in fortified buildings, residents would need to exercise caution.
"Please move to fortified buildings before strong winds start blowing and stay away from windows even inside fortified buildings," he said at a late-night press conference.
Japan's meteorological agency JMA said on Sunday that the southern part of Kyushu could see strong winds and high waves that have never been experienced before.
"There have been no reports of injuries or damage to any buildings, but the situation is getting worse," a Kagoshima prefectural official told AFP.
As of 9 a.m., the typhoon was 80 kilometers (50 miles) southeast of Japan's Yakushima island and was moving at speeds of 252 kilometers per hour.
It is expected to make landfall in Kyushu on Sunday evening and cross the main island of Japan by early Wednesday.
