'Very strong' typhoon Jebi on course to hit Japan

A typhoon that forecasters warned could be the strongest to hit Japan in 25 years barrelled directly towards the western part of the country yesterday, sparking warnings of violent winds and prompting rail operators to scrap services.

Typhoon Jebi is expected to make landfall around midday tomorrow near areas still recovering from deadly record rains last month.

If it maintains its current strength of 216 kilometres (135 miles) per hour, Jebi would be the first "very strong" typhoon to make landfall on Japan since 1993, according to the country's weather bureau.