It has a central atmospheric pressure of 955 hectopascals. The maximum wind velocity around its center is 144 kilometers per hour, with gusts of 216 kilometers per hour. The storm is packing winds of 90 kilometers per hour or more within a radius of 130 kilometers of its core.

The typhoon is forecast to come very close to Okinawa's Sakishima Islands, including Ishigaki and Miyako islands, through Saturday night.

Weather officials have issued a storm alert, predicting that violent winds strong enough to destroy houses will sweep across the islands from Saturday evening.

Winds of up to 162 kilometers per hour are forecast for the Sakishima Islands for Saturday and Sunday, while the Okinawa main island region will be hit with winds of up to 72 kilometers per hour on Saturday.

Seas will also be very rough with waves measuring 10 meters high forecast around the Sakishima Islands and 9 meters in the Okinawa main island region.

As the typhoon is moving slowly, stormy conditions are expected to last for many hours. People are advised to be vigilant for wind gusts and high waves.

The maximum hourly rainfall forecast for the Sakishima Islands is 70 millimeters. Residents are advised to remain on the high alert against landslides, flooding in low-lying areas and overflowing rivers.

The city of Miyakojima issued an evacuation order for all of its 55,541 residents in 29,295 households on Saturday morning.

Ishigaki City also instructed all of its 49,651 residents in 25,642 households to evacuate.