Japan issues highest alert as typhoon Neoguri approaches Okinawa (one of the worst storms in decades)

Japan’s weather agency on Monday issued its highest alert as super typhoon Neoguri barreled toward the southern Okinawa island chain, warning of violent winds and towering waves from what could be one of the worst storms in decades.

The typhoon warning—the first since a new system began last August—means that the storm poses a threat to life and could inflict massive damage from gusts up to 270 kilometers per hour and torrential rain.

Waves could reach as high as 14 meters, the Japan Meteorological Agency said in a warning that was likely to stoke memories of Japan’s quake-tsunami disaster in 2011.

The alert was aimed at Miyako island in the center of the archipelago, with the massive storm expected to hit more populated areas of Okinawa on Tuesday.