Typhoon Dolphin Hits Okinawa; China Suspends Ferry Routes
Typhoon Dolphin struck Okinawa on August 8 with winds exceeding 160 kph, forcing the evacuation of 260,000 people and canceling over 500 flights, before moving toward China where authorities suspended 162 ferry routes ahead of expected land
Typhoon Dolphin, with sustained winds of 162 kilometers per hour and gusts reaching 216 kilometers per hour, made landfall on Okinawa Prefecture in southern Japan on August 8. Local authorities evacuated nearly 260,000 people and canceled over 500 flights. At least five elderly people were injured in typhoon-related incidents, with three knocked down by strong winds, and approximately 14,000 homes experienced power outages. Major carriers All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) announced additional domestic flight cancellations, particularly on routes to and from Okinawa Prefecture. China's National Meteorological Center indicated the typhoon would make landfall in the eastern and southern regions late Sunday, August 9, with Quzhou in Zhejiang Province, Fuding in Fujian Province, and parts of Shanghai and nearby provinces expected to suffer the heaviest impact. Local authorities ordered ports closed and suspended 162 ferry routes as a result. Eastern Zhejiang Province is forecast to receive over 600 millimeters of rainfall. Taiwan canceled 63 international flights and prepared for heavy rainfall in the island's northern areas over the weekend.
