'Violet' set to hit Japan

'Violet' set to hit Japan

TOKYO (Reuter): Typhoon Violet, packing maximum winds of 144 kph (90 mph), was expected to hit central Japan today, the Meteorological Agency said yesterday.

As of 4.30 p.m. (0730 GMT), Violet was located 1,150 km (719 miles) southwest of Tokyo, the agency said.

Violet, the 17th typhoon to hit Japan this year, was moving northeast at a speed of 20 kph (12.5 mph), it said.

The typhoon was likely to start striking the southern part of Izu Peninsula, a popular hot-spring resort, this morning before pounding areas along the Pacific coast near Tokyo, the agency said.