Typhoon Dolphin Slams Okinawa as China Halts Ports Ahead of Landfall

Typhoon Dolphin struck Japan’s Okinawa prefecture on Saturday, injuring five people and cutting power to roughly 14,000 buildings, as China shut down ports and ferry routes ahead of the storm’s expected arrival on its eastern coast.

Damage and Disruptions in Japan

The Japan Meteorological Agency reported the storm was about 160 kilometers northwest of Kume Island as of early Saturday, moving northwest with maximum sustained winds of 162 kph and gusts up to 216 kph. Five elderly residents suffered non-life-threatening injuries, mostly from falls caused by strong winds. Domestic carriers ANA and Japan Airlines canceled flights to the affected region, with Okinawa and Amami island expected to bear the brunt of the storm.

China Braces for Landfall

China’s National Meteorological Centre expects Dolphin to make landfall along the eastern coast between late Sunday and early Monday, likely between Zhejiang and Fujian provinces, bringing winds up to 101 mph. Zhejiang raised its typhoon alert to the highest level, halting port operations and suspending 162 ferry routes. An airport in the region will pause operations, and some rail services in the Yangtze River Delta face suspension starting Sunday, with parts of eastern Zhejiang expected to see over 600mm of rain.

Taiwan Also Affected

Taiwan canceled 63 international flights due to the storm, with heavy rain expected in the north over the weekend, though no evacuations had been ordered as of Saturday. China’s order requiring ships to follow its traffic instructions through the Taiwan Strait drew criticism from Taipei, which called the move improper given the strait’s status as international waters.