Typhoon Dolphin Batters Japan’s Okinawa, Leaving 50,000 Buildings Without Power as China Braces for Impact
Typhoon Dolphin swept through Japan’s southern prefecture of Okinawa on Saturday, injuring six people and cutting off power to more than 50,000 buildings. Meanwhile, China has preemptively shuttered ports and suspended ferry services in preparation for the typhoon's imminent arrival on its eastern coast.
Injuries and Casualties
Japanese authorities reported that five elderly individuals sustained non-life-threatening injuries in Okinawa, including three who fell due to the sheer force of the winds. An additional injury was reported in the neighboring Kagoshima Prefecture.
Widespread Power Outages and Flight Cancellations
The severe weather conditions triggered widespread electricity disruptions, cutting power to approximately 39,000 buildings in Kagoshima and leaving over 12,000 buildings in the dark in Okinawa.
The transportation sector was also heavily impacted, with major carriers All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) canceling multiple flights to and from Okinawa to ensure passenger safety.
Meteorological data indicated that the typhoon unleashed maximum sustained winds of 162 kilometers per hour (km/h), with violent gusts reaching up to 216 km/h.