(by Sh. Nakata)

At least 14 people were killed in Japan after devastating storm with the winds of about 67 mph (108km/h) hit the country.

Typhoon Meari, the name of the storm, destroyed hit homes and forced people to leave their houses and seek for the shelter. It also left thousands of homes without power.

The town of Miyagawa in the prefecture of Mie was the one to being hit the most devastatively, officials say. "This is the heaviest rain I’ve ever had in my life. I can’t sleep because I am worried about my house," said a town resident. At least six people are missing in the town, officials add. Soldiers are trying to find survivors.

Typhoon is also blamed of several deaths in Japan’s south-western prefecture of Ehime.

This is the eighth typhoon that hit Japan in a year, and the strongest one, people say. The typhoon disrupted flights, train and ferry services.