Typhoon Dolphin Batters Japan, Heads for Eastern China
Al Jazeera Staff
Typhoon Dolphin made landfall on Japan's Okinawa, injuring five and cutting power to 14,000 buildings. It is now heading for eastern China, where authorities have closed ports, schools, and tourist sites ahead of its expected landfall.
Typhoon Dolphin made landfall on Okinawa in southern Japan, injuring five people and cutting electricity to 14,000 buildings. The storm is now moving toward eastern China, where authorities have proactively shut down ports, schools, and tourist attractions.
The main affected areas in Japan are Okinawa Island and Amami Island in Kagoshima Prefecture. According to the Okinawa Prefectural Government, five elderly people were injured, none with life-threatening conditions, including three who fell due to strong winds.
Typhoon Dolphin has caused numerous flight cancellations in Okinawa as well as in China and Taiwan (China).
The typhoon, named after the Chinese white dolphin in Hong Kong, comes amid a record heatwave across East Asia. In Japan, three lions at a zoo died from suspected heatstroke, while in South Korea, extreme temperatures are believed to have caused more than 20 deaths.
Typhoon Dolphin formed from a tropical depression on July 26, moving at 45 km/h across the vast waters of the central Pacific and covering thousands of kilometers. Along the way, it intensified into a tropical storm, then a severe tropical storm, and finally a typhoon on July 28.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, at 03:00 GMT Saturday, Typhoon Dolphin was about 160 km northwest of Kume Island, Okinawa, moving northwest at 15 km/h. Maximum sustained winds were 162 km/h, with gusts up to 216 km/h.
As the storm approaches China's eastern coast, authorities have issued a Level 3 emergency response, the second-lowest on the warning scale.
According to China's National Meteorological Center, Typhoon Dolphin is expected to make landfall on the eastern and southern coasts of China between Sunday evening and Monday morning, most likely between Zhoushan City (Zhejiang Province) and Fuding City (Fujian Province).
Heavy rain and strong winds are expected to affect eastern China through August 12, including parts of Shanghai and neighboring provinces. Some areas in eastern Zhejiang Province could receive over 600 mm of rainfall.
Zhejiang Province has raised its coastal typhoon warning to the highest level, suspending port operations and halting 162 passenger ferry routes. Ningbo, one of the province's largest cities, has ordered the closure of schools, educational institutions, and all water-related activities for the weekend. Ningbo Lishe International Airport also announced it would cease operations from 11:30 PM Saturday and suspend all flights on Sunday.
Yangshan Port in Shanghai has been cleared of vessels, while several railway lines in the Yangtze River Delta will be suspended from Sunday.
Meanwhile, Taiwan (China) authorities said 63 international flights have been canceled due to the storm. Heavy rain is forecast for northern parts of the island over the weekend, though no evacuation orders had been issued as of Saturday.
China has ordered that, due to the typhoon, vessels passing through the Taiwan Strait must comply with its traffic control instructions. Taiwan (China) condemned the move as "ridiculous," saying Beijing has no authority to restrict access to international waters. China considers Taiwan part of its territory and claims sovereignty over the strategic strait, a claim Taiwan rejects.
