Typhoon Dolphin batters Japan's Okinawa before bearing down on China
The storm has cut power to at least 44,000 buildings and injured five people on the Japanese island.
Typhoon Dolphin struck Japan's Okinawa island on Saturday, resulting in power outages for at least 44,000 structures and causing injuries to a minimum of five individuals. The storm, which had maximum wind speeds of 162 km/h (101 mph), was classified as "very strong" by the Japan Meteorological Agency, which issued warnings for high waves, storm surges, and lightning.
As the typhoon approached, Naha International Airport, Okinawa's primary airport, ceased operations on Friday, leading to the cancellation of all flights. The main areas in Japan impacted by Dolphin are the islands of Okinawa and Amami, located in the country's far southwest.
According to the Okinawan prefectural government, five elderly individuals sustained non-life-threatening injuries, with three of them falling due to the powerful winds. Japan's national broadcaster NHK reported numerous instances of trees being toppled by strong winds in Nago city, Okinawa, and an overturned car leaking oil was discovered in a parking lot.
Typhoon Dolphin is projected to make landfall on China's eastern coast late on Sunday or early on Monday. In anticipation of its arrival, Chinese authorities have closed ports and schools. Zhejiang's Ningbo Lishe International Airport announced it would halt operations from 23:30 local time on Saturday (15:30 GMT) and suspend all flights on Sunday. A coastal typhoon alert in Zhejiang has been elevated to its highest level, and port and ferry services in the province have been suspended.
Typhoon season in the western Pacific typically spans from May to October. This year is characterized by a strong El Niño, which experts suggest could lead to more intense typhoons. On average, about three out of 25 cyclones reaching tropical storm strength in the region make landfall in Japan annually, according to the country's meteorological agency. Some of these, like Dolphin, are strong enough to be classified as typhoons. The term "typhoon" refers to storms forming in the northwest Pacific, while "hurricane" is used for storms originating in the Atlantic or eastern Pacific.