Authorities in Japan have issued a tsunami warning for Iwate Prefecture in the north of the country, following the Philippines' evacuation of nearly one million people from at-risk areas as the powerful typhoon Feng-Wong struck the main island of Luzon. Authorities in both countries urged residents to stay away from coastal areas. Japan's public broadcaster reported that a tsunami wave was detected 70 km off the coast of Iwate Prefecture at 5:12 p.m. local time (0812 GMT) and is expected to reach the Pacific-facing coastline shortly. The military redirected about 2,000 soldiers from field exercises to focus on humanitarian aid and disaster response. The Civil Aviation Authority canceled approximately 400 domestic and international flights. The U.S. Tsunami Warning System indicated that a magnitude 6.26 earthquake had earlier occurred off the eastern coast of Honshu, Japan's largest island, which includes Iwate Prefecture. Meanwhile, the Philippines has evacuated more than 900,000 people from at-risk areas as the powerful typhoon Feng-Wong battered the main island of Luzon. Work and school were suspended in many areas, including Metro Manila. Typhoon Feng-Wong, known locally as Awan, is expected to make landfall in Aurora province in central Luzon later today, just days after the Southeast Asian archipelago was hit by typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed 224 people in the Philippines and five in Vietnam, destroying coastal areas. Feng-Wong has hit many parts of Luzon, with authorities stating it is packing winds of up to 185 km/h and gusts of up to 230 km/h, causing torrential rain. The highest-level, fifth-alert warnings were issued in the southeastern and central Philippines, including Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, and Aurora province, while authorities placed Metro Manila and surrounding regions under a third-alert warning. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro urged residents in the storm's path to comply with evacuation orders, warning that refusal is dangerous and illegal. He added that the wave height is expected to be around one meter.
