As vote counting continues in the US presidential election, the Japanese government plans to strengthen communication with the US and other countries over the security situation in East Asia.

Some Japanese government officials have expressed concern about a possible political vacuum caused by a delay in determining the election's outcome.

What could be the most powerful typhoon in decades is threatening the country's southwest.

Weather officials expect the typhoon to develop to emergency-warning level as it approaches or makes landfall in the Kyushu region from Sunday to Monday.

People in southwestern Japan are preparing for a powerful typhoon that may become one of the strongest storms to hit Japan in decades.

Haishen could make landfall at close to full strength Sunday or Monday. Weather officials are calling on people to prepare with the utmost caution.

Two powerful weather systems are bearing down on western Japan from different directions. Weather officials are warning people on the southwestern island of Kyushu to prepare for a strong typhoon.

At the same time, a severe tropical storm is expected to hit the region in the coming days.

Two powerful weather systems are bearing down on western Japan from different directions.

Weather officials are warning people on the southwestern island of Kyushu to prepare for a strong typhoon heading their way. At the same time, a severe tropical storm is expected to hit western Japan in the coming days.

Two powerful weather systems are bearing down on western Japan from different directions. Weather officials are warning people to prepare for a strong typhoon heading toward the southwestern island of Kyushu. At the same time, a severe tropical storm is expected to hit western Japan in the coming days.

Typhoon Maysak has been gathering force, and will likely approach northern Kyushu this evening. The island is already being buffeted by strong winds.

The southern Japanese prefecture of Okinawa is bracing for powerful typhoon Maysak, which is expected to approach the region between Monday night and Tuesday.

Okinawa City officials issued an advisory to prepare for evacuation at 10 a.m. Japan time. The alert targets 64,141 households, or 142,932 residents. It is the third highest on a scale of five.

Japan is bracing for more torrential downpours through Friday as a lingering seasonal rain front threatens the western and eastern parts of the country. The rain has already left flooding and landslides along Japan's archipelago in its wake. Sixty-two people are confirmed dead, one person has no-vital signs, and 17 others are still missing.

In Kyoto Prefecture, a powerful mudslide swept away three cars near an interchange of an expressway. Officials say two male drivers had slight injuries.