Tokyo, Aug 9 (IANS): Typhoon Lupit lashed Japan with strong winds and heavy rain on Monday after making landfall on the southwestern Kyushu region the previous night, the weather agency said.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, Lupit, the ninth typhoon of the year, is expected to reach the Sea of Japan after making landfall near Kure in Hiroshima prefecture, reports Xinhua news agency.

It will also bring downpours and strong winds to western, eastern and northern Japan areas through Tuesday.

People are recommended to be vigilant against possible mudslides and floods.

Mudslide alerts were issued in some parts of Hiroshima, Shimane, Ehime, and Oita prefectures, and some rivers in Hiroshima and Yamaguchi prefectures are above their flood warning levels.

It is expected that in the 24 hours through Tuesday morning, the rainfall will reach up to 300 mm for the Tokai region in central Japan and between 100 mm and 180 mm in wide areas including the Kanto and Kinki regions.

The typhoon was moving northeast at around 45 km per hour about 70 km south-southwest of Yonago, Tottori prefecture.

The atmospheric pressure of Lupit was 985 hectopascals at its centre, and the wind speed was as high as 126 kph.