Typhoon Nari Strengthens on Path for Okinawa

Typhoon Nari headed across the Pacific Ocean with winds of 157 kilometers per hour (98 miles per hour) and is forecast to strengthen before hitting the Japanese islands of Okinawa later today or early tomorrow.

Nari, classified as ``extremely strong,'' was moving west- northwest at 20 kilometers an hour, with winds gusting to as high as 222 kilometers per hour. The weather agency issued warnings for strong winds, battering waves and a storm surge for the Okinawa island chain.

Nari's eye is expected to pass to the west of Naha early tomorrow, the agency said.

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Moderate quake jolts Okinawa

A moderate earthquake jolted Okinawa Prefecture in the early hours of Friday, the Meteorological Agency said.

There were not reports of casualties or damage to properties, Okinawa Prefectural Police said, and no tsunami warning was issued following the quake.

The tremblor that struck at 2:51 a.m. registered 3 on the 7-point Japanese intensity scale on Yonaguni, Japan's westernmost island.

The focus of the earthquake, which is estimated at 6.5 on the open-ended Richter scale, was located near Taiwan, the agency said.