A powerful tropical cyclone, Typhoon Neoguri, unleashed torrential rains and up to 100 mph winds on the southern Japanese Okinawa islands on Wednesday. Neoguri had weakened to a tropical storm when it hit the Japanese mainland near the city of Akune on Thursday.
Japanese residents had sought refuge from the fierce weather, and some 500,000 people had been ordered to evacuate their homes in Okinawa, according to the Associated Press. So far, the storm has left several people dead, injured at least 50 people and caused widespread damage.
Pedestrians walk amid strong winds in Nagasaki, Kyushu on July 9, 2014. (JIJI PRESS/AFP/Getty Images)
A landslide is caused by heavy rain in Nago, in Japan's southern island of Okinawa on July 9, 2014. (JIJI PRESS/AFP/Getty Images)
An image of Typhoon Neoguri over Japan at 05:00 UTC on July 8, 2014, provided by the MODIS instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite. (NASA/GSFC/Jeff Schmaltz/MODIS Land Rapid Response via Getty Images)
A wooden house that has collapsed during strong winds in Naha on Japan's southern island of Okinawa on July 8, 2014. (JIJI PRESS/AFP/Getty Images)
Trees damaged by strong winds on a street in Naha in Japan's southern island of Okinawa on July 8, 2014. (JIJI PRESS/AFP/Getty Images)
Roadside trees are blasted by strong winds along relatively empty streets in Naha on Japan's southern island of Okinawa as Typhoon Neoguri hit the area on July 8, 2014. (JIJI PRESS/AFP/Getty Images)
A woman squats down to avoid strong winds brought by Typhoon Neoguri along a street in Naha on Japan's southern island of Okinawa on July 8, 2014. (JIJI PRESS/AFP/Getty Images)
Trees destroyed by strong winds in Naha, Okinawa on July 8, 2014. (JIJI PRESS/AFP/Getty Images)
Pedestrians walk amid strong winds in Naha, Okinawa on July 8, 2014. (JIJI PRESS/AFP/Getty Images)
Vehicles drive on a wet road in Naha, Okinawa on July 8, 2014. (JIJI PRESS/AFP/Getty Images)
Vehicles avoid an electric power line hanging in the middle of the road after it was snapped by heavy winds from Typhoon Neoguri in Nago, Okinawa prefecture, on July 8, 2014. (JIJI PRESS/AFP/Getty Images)
Local residents battle strong winds as they walk on a suspension bridge in New Taipei City as Typhoon Neoguri nears eastern Taiwan on July 8, 2014. (SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images)
Local residents walk on a suspension bridge in New Taipei City as Typhoon Neoguri nears eastern Taiwan on July 8, 2014. (SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images)
A man swims in the Hsintien river in New Taipei City as Typhoon Neoguri nears eastern Taiwan on July 8, 2014. (SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images)
Local residents battle strong winds as they walk on a suspension bridge in New Taipei City as Typhoon Neoguri nears eastern Taiwan on July 8, 2014. (SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images)