Flights and train schedules were disrupted as heavy rains, strong winds and high waves battered the southern and western parts of the Japanese archipelago.

The eye of Typhoon Dianmu, packing winds of up to 126 kilometers (79 miles) per hour, made landfall near Muroto city on Shikoku island, some 550 kilometers (350 miles) west of Tokyo, the Meteorological Agency said.

Dianmu was expected to plough across the main island of Honshu and into the Sea of Japan (East Sea) later on Monday, it said.

The bodies of two university students were found Sunday after they were swept away by a wave while enjoying a barbecue party Saturday night on a beach in Shizuoka, some 150 kilometers west of Tokyo, Shizuoka police said.

A 32-year-old male surfer also drowned off the main Okinawan island in Japan's extreme southwest, public broadcaster NHK said.

Those missing include a 73-year-old man who was fishing on Kozu, a Pacific islet some 160 kilometers south of Tokyo, NHK said.

A 19-year-old male was swept away by high waves while playing on the beach near Mihama, Wakayama prefecture, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said.

Two people also suffered typhoon-related injuries.

Some 700 people in 10 affected prefectures, mostly in southern Kagoshima, left their homes and sought refuge from the violent weather, the disaster agency said.

As of 10:00 am (0100 GMT), Dianmu's center was located some 80 kilometers south southwest of Tokushima, on Shikoku island, the Meteorological Agency said.

It was expected to dump 300-400 millimeters (12 to 16 inches) of rain on western and central Japan in the 24 hours to Tuesday morning, it said.

Dianmu means "mother of lightning" in Chinese.

TERRA.WIRE