NNA - The Japan Meteorological Agency warned today of the "unprecedented" risks of a "very dangerous" typhoon heading towards the southern island of Kyushu, calling on residents to take shelter before the storm arrives.

Hurricane "Nanmadol" leads to gusts of winds of up to 270 kilometers per hour, and was classified Saturday as a "violent" storm, which is the highest level on the authority's scale.

In the afternoon, it began approaching the remote island of Minami Daito, located 400 km east of the island of Okinawa.

"AFP" quoted the head of the weather forecast unit at the Japan Meteorological Agency, Ryota Korura, as saying: "There are risks from unprecedented storms, strong waves and record rain."

"We must be very careful," he added, urging residents to evacuate their homes before the storm arrives.

"It's a very dangerous hurricane," he said.

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