Typhoon Dolphin Hits Okinawa, China Closes Ports
Five injured and thousands without power in Japan, while China braces for the storm with winds up to 216 km/h and heavy rain.
Five injured and thousands without power in Japan, while China braces for the storm with winds up to 216 km/h and heavy rain.
Typhoon Dolphin struck Japan's southern prefecture of Okinawa on Saturday, injuring five people and cutting power to 14,000 buildings, according to Reuters. Meanwhile, China has closed ports and ferry services ahead of the storm's expected arrival on its eastern coast.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the storm was located about 160 kilometers northwest of Kumejima Island at noon, moving northwest at 15 km/h. The typhoon carried sustained winds of 162 km/h, with gusts reaching 216 km/h.
The local Okinawa government reported that five elderly individuals sustained non-life-threatening injuries, with three of them falling due to strong winds. Domestic airlines ANA and Japan Airlines canceled flights to the region. The main areas expected to be affected in Japan are Okinawa and Amami Island in Kagoshima Prefecture.
China's National Meteorological Center announced that Typhoon Dolphin is expected to make landfall on the eastern and southern coasts of China between late Sunday and early Monday, August 9-10. The most likely landfall point is the area between Zhoushan City in Zhejiang Province and Fuding City in Fujian Province. Winds near the storm's center are expected to reach speeds of 38 to 45 meters per second.
Zhejiang Province has raised its typhoon alert to the highest level, halted port operations, and suspended 162 passenger ferry routes. Ningbo Lishe International Airport announced it would suspend operations from 11:30 PM on Saturday, with all flights canceled on Sunday, August 9.
Shanghai's Yangshan Port was cleared of vessels late Friday evening, August 7, while rail services in the Yangtze River Delta will be suspended starting Sunday. Heavy rain and strong winds are expected to affect eastern China, including parts of Shanghai and neighboring provinces, through August 12. Forecasters warn that some areas in eastern Zhejiang could receive more than 600 millimeters of rain.
Due to the typhoon, Taiwan has canceled 63 international flights, according to its government. Heavy rain is expected in the northern parts of the island over the weekend, but authorities had not ordered evacuations as of Saturday.
China has also issued directives requiring ships passing through the Taiwan Strait to follow its traffic control instructions. Taipei condemned these measures as "ridiculous," as reported by the Japan Times, emphasizing that Beijing has no right to restrict access to international waters. China, which considers democratically governed Taiwan its territory, also claims the strategic strait, a claim rejected by both Taipei and Washington.
