Millions urged to evacuate as powerful Typhoon Dujuan hits Japan

Image source, EPA By Jamie Whitehead and Kelly Ng Published 24 minutes ago Almost two million people are under evacuation orders in Japan as Typhoon Dujuan batters a number of the country's prefectures.

Japan's Meteorological Agency had warned of an "imminent threat to life", but several warnings have now been downgraded, with the danger to life warning remaining in place in Oshima Town.

Strong winds caused power cuts for more than 50,000 people, while hundreds of flights have been cancelled and rail services have been suspended.

Dujuan has had sustained winds of 130km/h (80.8mph) and gusts of 194 km/h. It is the latest in a series of storms in the Pacific, made more intense by the "super El Niño", which has warmed the ocean, fuelling the formation of storms.