Japan braces for typhoon; Toyota, Nissan to suspend production in Fukuoka

Japan on Monday braced for the impact of a strong approaching typhoon, with airlines cancelling flights and some companies suspending production at factories in the western part of the country.

Typhoon Hinnamnor was already pounding parts of the westernmost main island of Kyushu with heavy rain on Monday, with both rain and winds expected to worsen as the storm brushes by on Tuesday and heads towards Korea, which raised its typhoon alert level to the highest.

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Parts of Kyushu were expected to be hit by some 300 millimeters of rain in the 24 hours to noon on Tuesday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said, also warning of strong winds and storm surges.

Some 70 flights were cancelled on Monday, Japanese media said. Toyota Motor Corp said it will suspend some evening shifts at three plants in western Japan, while Nissan Motor Corp and Nissan Shatai Co subsidiaries in Fukuoka prefecture suspended production for Monday night and Tuesday daylight shifts.

Toyota will suspend Monday night shift production starting at 9 p.m. and cancel Tuesday morning production at three factories in Fukuoka Prefecture. The automaker expects to resume production on the Tuesday night shift, it said on its website.