What could be the most powerful typhoon in decades is threatening Japan's southwest. The Meteorological Agency has declared it's probable that it will issue an emergency warning for Kagoshima Prefecture on Sunday morning.

An agency official said, "Typhoon Haishen is expected to approach or make landfall in Kagoshima Prefecture late Sunday night. Kagoshima is expected to enter the storm zone shortly after noon on Sunday. We may issue an emergency warning for violent winds, high waves, and a storm surge in Kagoshima on Sunday morning."

Japan's health officials reported no new infections of the novel coronavirus on Tuesday morning.

The total number of confirmed cases in the country stands at 17,223.

Japan's health authorities say the country has not recorded any new coronavirus cases on Sunday as of 11:30 a.m.

The total number of confirmed infections stands at 15,777, including people who tested positive at airport quarantine stations.

An earthquake struck the Tohoku region of northern Japan at around 5:39 a.m. on Monday, local time.

It had an estimated magnitude of 6.1. The focus was off the coast of Miyagi prefecture at a depth of 50 kilometers. Officials say there is no risk of tsunami.

A second plane to evacuate Japanese nationals from Wuhan, the epicenter of the new coronavirus outbreak, is expected to arrive at Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Thursday morning.

The government-chartered plane left for the Chinese city on Wednesday night. It was carrying eight medical staff and government officials, as well as relief supplies such as masks and disinfectants.