In brief
Typhoon Dolphin hit Japan’s Okinawa, snapping power lines to over 44,000 buildings and leaving five elderly residents injured. Flights were grounded as the storm battered the island, while Chinese authorities prepped ports and schools for a projected landfall by Monday. The 162‑km‑h gusts unveiled the storm’s “very strong” classification, backed by a strong El Niño year. Experts note that, in the Pacific, such typhoons are inevitable between May and October, but this season has an unusually high threat level. The storm’s path now tracks north‑west toward China’s eastern coast, prompting heightened coastal warnings in Zhejiang province.
Japanese officials report that Typhoon Dolphin has knocked out power in at least 44,000 homes on Okinawa island, and five people—mostly elderly—have suffered non‑life‑threatening injuries. The cyclone’s capes toppled trees and overturned a car, leaving a scene of a parking lot leaking oil amid the strong winds.
Naha International Airport, the main air hub for the Okinawan archipelago, shut down on Friday as the storm surged into the island. Flights to and from the region were cancelled, plunging residents into a four‑hour blackout that halted essential services.
With maximum sustained winds reaching 162 km/h (101 mph) on Saturday, the Japan Meteorological Agency has labeled Dolphin a “very strong” typhoon, raising alarms about high waves, storm surges and lightning strikes.
The storm is drying north‑westward. Officials in Zhejiang province, China, have halted all flights at Ningbo Lishe International Airport from 23:30 local time and suspended operations on Sunday. Port and ferry services have also been suspended at the province’s coastal hubs.
Scientists note that this year is a particularly strong El Niño period, an era that often amplifies tropical cyclone intensity in the western Pacific. In a typical year, about 25 cyclones reach tropical‑storm strength, and roughly three make landfall in Japan; Typhoon Dolphin represents the higher‑end of that spectrum.
Officials warn that Dolphin’s projected landfall on China’s eastern coast is scheduled for late Sunday or early Monday. Coastal towns are on high alert, with emergency drills underway. Residents are advised to heed local advisories and avoid low‑lying shorelines until the storm subsides.
The storm’s path, illustrated on a recent satellite image, shows a trajectory moving away from southern Japan and heading toward China’s coast, a route that could bring significant rainfall and high winds to the region.
