Typhoon Dolphin Batters Okinawa, Leaving Tens of Thousands Without Power

Powerful Typhoon Dolphin swept across Japan’s southern Okinawa region, bringing destructive winds, torrential rain and major disruption to transportation and electricity supplies.
The storm struck the region with maximum sustained winds of around 162 kilometres per hour, while gusts reached approximately 216 kilometres per hour.
At least six people were reported injured as the storm affected Okinawa and nearby islands. Initial reports indicated that some of the injuries occurred when people were knocked over or fell during the powerful winds.
Electricity supplies were severely disrupted. At one stage, more than 50,000 buildings in Okinawa were affected by power outages, while nearly 39,000 buildings lost electricity in Kagoshima Prefecture.
The dangerous weather also caused widespread disruption to air travel. Domestic flights operated by major Japanese carriers including ANA and Japan Airlines were cancelled in Okinawa.
The disruption began even before the centre of the typhoon reached the region. Hundreds of flights had already been cancelled as authorities issued evacuation instructions and urged residents to prepare for extremely strong winds, heavy rainfall and dangerous waves.
Okinawa and the Amami Islands were among the areas most exposed to the storm.
Residents were warned about the possibility of flooding, landslides, storm surges and extremely rough seas, while hundreds of people sought shelter in evacuation centres as the typhoon approached.
Dolphin also created additional concerns in parts of southwestern Japan where some buildings had already been damaged by a recent earthquake. Temporary repairs and exposed roofs increased the risk of further damage from intense rainfall and powerful winds.
As Dolphin moved away from Japan and into the East China Sea, the immediate threat began shifting toward China’s eastern coastline.
Chinese authorities launched extensive preparations for the approaching storm, raising their emergency response and issuing weather alerts for several coastal regions.
Ports, tourist attractions and water-related activities were suspended in vulnerable areas, while ships were ordered to return to harbour.
Authorities in Zhejiang took particularly extensive precautions. Around 800 vessels were brought into port in Ningbo, while schools and educational facilities in the city were closed for the weekend.
The storm was expected to affect Zhejiang, northern Fujian and the Shanghai region.
Forecasts warned that some areas could receive between 200 and 400 millimetres of rain, creating a significant danger of flash floods, landslides and other geological disasters.
China also warned of extremely rough seas, with waves potentially reaching around eight metres in some coastal waters.
Taiwan experienced disruption from the outer effects of the storm as well, with dozens of flights cancelled.
Dolphin has travelled an unusually long distance across the Pacific.
The weather system developed from a tropical depression in late July before strengthening rapidly over the exceptionally warm waters of the Pacific Ocean. At one stage it became an extremely powerful typhoon before gradually weakening as it approached Japan.
Despite losing some of its peak intensity, Dolphin remained dangerous because of its powerful winds, heavy rainfall and broad area of influence.
For Okinawa, the immediate danger is gradually decreasing as the centre of the storm moves farther away, although authorities continue to warn residents about high waves, strong winds and further rainfall.
Attention is now increasingly turning toward eastern China, where preparations are under way for the next stage of Dolphin’s journey.
The final scale of the damage in Japan will become clearer after weather conditions improve and authorities are able to assess affected communities and infrastructure.
Sources: Japan Meteorological Agency, Reuters, Associated Press.