Typhoon Sinlaku - Okinawa Update 7 - 0715hrs 17Sep2008 (Updated)

A dark and gloomy sky as howling winds replace the sounds of the usual morning birdsong greetings.  That is the scene on the main Ryukyu island of Okinawa on 17 September 2008 as Typhoon Sinlaku continues in its nine day journey through the East China Sea.

As of 0955hrs, the Japanese Meteorological Agency has the system continuing to decrease in strength of the next two days.

In addition to the major damages and loss of life in Taiwan, a local newspaper, Ryukyu Shimpo, reports the initial estimates as to the cost of damages to the agricultural sector of the southernmost islands of the Ryukyu archipelago affected by Typhoon Sinlaku are in the 28,000,000 yen (approx. 2,700,000 USD) range.