TOKYO: Typhoon Dianmu slammed into northern Japan on Thursday after passing across South Korea and killing five people there, officials said.

With winds of up to 80 kilometres (50 miles) per hour, it made landfall in Akita in the north of Honshu island at around 5:00 pm (0800 GMT) after travelling northeast over the Sea of Japan, the Meteorological Agency said.

The storm`s arrival coincided with Japan`s mid-August holiday break, when many people were visiting their hometowns and offering prayers to their ancestors.

The weather agency warned heavy rain could trigger flooding of rivers and mudslides while waves could be as tall as five metres (16 feet).

Rainfall could reach 20 centimetres (eight inches) in northeastern Japan in the 24 hours to midday Friday, according to the agency.

Torrential rain brought by the approach of Dianmu left five people dead and grounded dozens of flights in South Korea.

The typhoon made landfall on the south coast of the Korean Peninsula early Wednesday and dumped more rain as it passed through the country towards Japan.

BDST: 15:32 HRS, August 12, 2010