Typhoon “Dolphin” struck remote islands in southern Japan on Friday (August 7), causing the main airport in Okinawa to shut down. All flights to and from the islands were grounded, with hundreds of people being evacuated to shelters.
The powerful typhoon Dolphin swept through Japan’s Okinawa and Amami regions on Friday, leaving over 2,250 households without power. Approximately 258,000 residents in 17 municipalities have been issued evacuation orders, and three people in Okinawa have been injured due to the typhoon.
The impact of the typhoon disrupted air travel in Okinawa almost entirely. Four airports including Naha, Miyako, Ishigaki, and Shimojishima were all closed.
A total of 417 flights were canceled on Friday, with Naha, Miyako, and Ishigaki airports remaining closed throughout the day. Shimojishima Airport canceled all flights but briefly reopened from 8 a.m. to noon to assist airline operations.
Additionally, 274 flights scheduled for August 8th and 9th were preemptively canceled, leading to a total of 691 flight cancellations over three days, affecting an estimated 105,000 passengers.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), as of Friday afternoon, Typhoon Dolphin maintained sustained winds of up to 144 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 198 kilometers per hour.
The JMA stated that strong winds, heavy rain, and giant waves are expected to persist in the Okinawa region until Sunday, advising residents to stay indoors. By Friday noon, 240 individuals had evacuated to shelters across Okinawa Prefecture.
The JMA warned that during its approach to Okinawa, Typhoon Dolphin is expected to maintain its intensity, with strong winds potentially causing damage or collapse of buildings. Furthermore, the typhoon could produce a band of heavy rain, leading to prolonged downpours, thunderstorms, and increased risks of flooding and landslides.
The typhoon also brought strong winds to most southern areas of Kyushu Island, including Kumamoto Prefecture. Kumamoto is still recovering from a 7.1-magnitude earthquake that occurred last week, with many houses damaged during the earthquake. Residents are repairing roofs and walls, and laying blue waterproof sheets to prevent further damage from heavy rains.
Currently, about 6,700 evacuees are still residing in shelters. The JMA also warned of the potential for heatstroke as temperatures in some areas are expected to reach 36°C.
Furthermore, due to the typhoon’s impact, Toyota announced the temporary suspension of production at nine factories in Japan on Friday to ensure employee safety and minimize the storm’s impact.
The meteorological department stated that Typhoon Dolphin is expected to gradually weaken over the weekend before moving towards the eastern coast of China and making landfall on Monday morning.