Japan storm: Millions told to evacuate as Typhoon Nanmadol makes landfall

One of the biggest typhoons ever to strike Japan has made landfall on the southern island of Kyushu.

Typhoon Nanmadol has brought winds of at least 180 km/h (112mph) and some areas could see 500mm (20 inches) of rainfall over Sunday and Monday.

At least four million people have been told to evacuate their homes.

Extensive flooding and landslides are expected, while bullet train services, ferries, and hundreds of flights have been cancelled.

The typhoon made landfall near the city of Kagoshima, on the southern tip of Kyushu, on Sunday morning.

Kyushu is the southernmost of the four islands that make up the main body of Japan and has a population of more than 13 million people.

Authorities had issued a "special alert" for the island, the first ever put in place outside the Okinawa Prefecture, which consists of the smaller, remote Japanese islands in the East China Sea, the Japan Times reports.