Typhoon Dolphin made landfall on Japan's Okinawa islands on Saturday, packing sustained winds of 162 km/h and gusts up to 216 km/h. The storm injured at least five or six people, knocked out power to tens of thousands of buildings, and forced mass cancellations of flights and ferries.
Storm Details and Impact
Japan's Meteorological Agency reported the typhoon centred about 160 km north-west of Kume Island early Saturday, moving north-west at roughly 15 km/h. It disrupted life across Okinawa and parts of Kagoshima prefecture, grounding more than 500 flights on Friday alone.
Authorities ordered evacuations for nearly 260,000 people as torrential rain and ferocious winds battered the islands. Trees snapped, roads flooded, and emergency services responded to reports of partial damage to homes.
Power Outages and Injuries
Power cuts hit between 14,000 and more than 50,000 buildings, according to varying official tallies, plunging neighbourhoods into darkness. Elderly residents were among the injured, some after being blown over by extreme winds.
Local governments urged people to stay indoors, secure property, and avoid the shoreline as high waves and storm surges threatened low-lying areas.
Typhoon's Path and China Preparations
The typhoon, which earlier reached super-typhoon strength with peak winds near 270 km/h, weakened but remained dangerous. It formed in late July over the western Pacific, tracked westwards, and intensified near the Ryukyu chain.
Forecasters expected landfall between Zhejiang and northern Fujian provinces late Sunday or early Monday. Chinese authorities declared a Level III emergency response, shut schools, tourist sites, and water-based activities, and docked hundreds of ships at ports including Ningbo.
Heavy rainfall of 200-400 mm, and in places more than 600 mm, was forecast for eastern China, raising the risk of severe flooding and landslides. Shanghai also lay in the projected path.
Recovery and Warnings
In Japan, the focus remained on recovery. Domestic airlines cancelled services to and from Okinawa, while ferry routes were suspended. Emergency teams worked to restore power and assist the injured, with officials warning that residual heavy rain could trigger further landslides and flash flooding.
Typhoon Dolphin's passage underscored the vulnerability of island communities to late-summer storms. Meteorologists noted its unusual origins near the International Date Line and its long track across open ocean before striking land.
