International Desk || Authorities in Japan have ordered around 260,000 residents to evacuate as powerful Typhoon No.13 approaches the country’s southwestern region, while more than 500 flights were cancelled on Friday due to worsening weather conditions.The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said the Category 1 typhoon is packing maximum sustained winds of 144 kilometres per hour, with gusts reaching up to 198 kilometres per hour.The storm is moving towards the island chain between the Kyushu region and Okinawa Prefecture, bringing the risk of strong winds, heavy rainfall and rough seas.Evacuation orders have been issued for residents in Kagoshima and Okinawa prefectures. Toyota, Japan’s largest automaker, also temporarily suspended production at nine factories on Friday as a precautionary measure.The weather agency warned that the typhoon could maintain its strength while approaching Okinawa, with strong winds potentially causing damage to buildings and other structures.Authorities also cautioned about the risk of sudden flooding caused by narrow areas of intense rainfall, known as “linear rain bands”, along with possible thunderstorms.The impact of the storm has already reached parts of Kyushu, Japan’s southern main island. Kumamoto Prefecture, which is still recovering from last week’s 7.1-magnitude earthquake, is among the affected areas.Around 6,700 people remain in evacuation shelters in the region after many homes were damaged by the earthquake.The JMA has also warned residents about the risk of heatstroke, as temperatures in some areas are expected to reach 36 degrees Celsius.