TOKYO, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Powerful Typhoon Halong passed the Izu island chain south of Tokyo on Thursday, prompting Japan's weather agency to temporarily issue a special heavy rain warning and forcing hundreds of residents in the region to take refuge, local media reported.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) downgraded the heavy rain emergency warning for Hachijo Island in the island chain to a warning at 2:30 p.m. local time, while the weather forced hundreds of residents in the region to take refuge at evacuation centers, Kyodo News reported.

According to the JMA, rainfall on Hachijo in the three hours through 7 a.m. local time reached 207 millimeters, the highest ever for the area, while winds of up to 196.92 km per hour were logged early Thursday morning on Hachijo.

Some building damage caused by strong winds, such as roofs being blown away, was reported, according to the Tokyo metropolitan government and local authorities.

In Oiso, Kanagawa Prefecture, facing the Pacific, three men were swept away by waves while fishing, leaving one dead, the report said, noting that advisories for high waves and strong winds were issued for the town at the time.

The season's 22nd typhoon, which was formed on Sunday, intensified more than weather officials had estimated, possibly because the sea surface temperature along the typhoon's path was around 28 degrees Celsius, one to two degrees higher than average, according to the JMA. ■