Heavy rain has spread to Japan’s main islands as a storm that first hit as powerful Typhoon Vongfong continued its path across the country.

Japan’s Meteorological Agency said Vongfong still had winds of up to 160 kilometers per hour (100 mph) Monday after being downgraded to a tropical storm.

Forecasters expect it to hit the Tokyo area by early Tuesday.

Authorities warned of landslides and flash floods in areas where the typhoon is forecast to traverse.

The typhoon also paralyzed traffic, stranding tens of thousands of people travelling around the country at the end of a three-day national holiday.

Airlines have canceled more than 500 flights, while West Japan Railway said it planned to suspend all local services in the western region of Kansai later Monday.

Injuries, evacuations

The storm peaked with winds of 234 kilometers per hour (145 mph) Saturday, and has damaged homes and caused transportation delays as it crossed over Japan’s southern Islands.

It has injured at least 56 people and authorities have urged 450,000 people to evacuate.

Vongfong is the second typhoon to hit Japan in the past week, after Typhoon Phanfone leaving 11 people dead or missing, including three U.S. servicemen based in Okinawa.

Due to the latest storm, the search was suspended for the bodies of at least seven hikers believed to remain on the still-smouldering Mount Ontake, where 56 bodies have already been retrieved.

The volcano was packed with walkers when it burst angrily to life on September 27, with many there to witness the spectacular autumn foliage.

Some material for this report came from Reuters, AFP and AP.
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