Heavy rains and strong winds lashed southwestern Japan today as a powerful typhoon approached, cutting power to homes and blowing off roofs. The weather agency warned the violent storm is likely to be the first typhoon to make landfall in Japan since 2007. It said Typhoon Melor, packing gusts of up to 216 kilometres per hour, was moving east of Amami-Oshima Island in Japan's far south on course to hit the main island of Honshu tomorrow. The agency said rain will be very heavy and winds will also be fairly strong on land and it is likely to make landfall with a violent force. Officials advised residents to put shields on windows, fill their bathtub in case of water supply cuts and gather daily necessities for possible evacuation.