Typhoon Dolphin Batters Okinawa and Kagoshima
A powerful tropical cyclone named Typhoon Dolphin battered Japan’s southern island chain of Okinawa and parts of Kagoshima prefecture on Saturday. The storm knocked out power to more than 50,000 buildings, injured six people, and forced hundreds of thousands to evacuate before tracking westward toward China.
The system packed maximum sustained winds of 162 kilometers per hour, equivalent to 101 miles per hour, with violent gusts reaching up to 216 kph, or 134 mph. Five elderly residents in Okinawa suffered non-life-threatening injuries as the system swept across the region. A sixth person was injured in Kagoshima prefecture.
Power Outages and Transport Disruption
Infrastructure sustained heavy impacts from the winds and torrential rain. Nearly 39,000 buildings in Kagoshima and more than 12,000 buildings in Okinawa were left without electricity.
The severe weather also paralyzed regional transport networks, prompting major Japanese airlines to cancel flights scheduled to and from Okinawa.
Mass Evacuations Ordered Ahead of Landfall
Prior to the storm’s arrival, local authorities issued mandatory evacuation orders on Friday for approximately 260,000 residents across Kagoshima and Okinawa. Officials warned the public of severe hazards including destructive winds, heavy precipitation, and dangerously high coastal waves.
China Elevates Emergency Response Levels
As Typhoon Dolphin maintains its trajectory across the East China Sea, it is expected to gradually weaken before reaching the Chinese coastline. Chinese national authorities have elevated the typhoon emergency response to Level III, signaling a heightened state of operational preparedness, and classified the weather system as an orange-category typhoon.
Port Closures and Flood Threats on the Mainland
Meteorological forecasters predict landfall between Zhoushan in Zhejiang province and Fuding in Fujian province, with the impact window spanning from late Sunday to early Monday.
In anticipation of the severe weather, regional authorities have ordered the suspension of port operations and ferry services across affected coastal sectors. Select schools and tourist destinations have also been closed to minimize public risk. Emergency management agencies warn that parts of eastern China could receive up to 400 millimeters of heavy rain, significantly elevating the threat of widespread flooding and mountainous landslides as the storm makes landfall.
