Typhoon disrupts start of Japan holiday week

A Filipino man hangs on a net to cross waters as he moves to safer grounds during heavy rainfall at Manila's bay, Philippines on Aug. 4, 2014. The typhoon blows toward southern Japan.

A typhoon is lashing Japan as it enters a holiday week, injuring six people and causing authorities to order the evacuation of half a million people near swollen rivers.

Typhoon Halong disrupted land and air traffic on Saturday as Japan began its annual “Obon” Buddhist holiday week.

Japan’s Meteorological Agency issued a special warning for heavy rain in Mie prefecture in central Japan, prompting two towns to order about 500,000 residents to evacuate due to a fear of flooding from swollen rivers. The agency said heavy rain in the area would continue overnight.

Strong winds left six people injured, one seriously, in Miyazaki prefecture in southern Japan.