Typhoon Dolphin hit Japan’s southern Okinawa Island and affected Amami Island in Kagoshima prefecture, injuring five elderly people and cutting power to 14,000 buildings. The Okinawan prefectural government said the injuries were not life-threatening and that three people fell because of the wind.
The storm was moving toward China’s eastern coast, where authorities closed ports, schools and tourist sites and raised emergency measures. The Japan Meteorological Agency said Dolphin was about 160km northwest of Kume Island at 03:00 GMT on Saturday, moving northwest at 15km/h with sustained winds of 162km/h and gusts of up to 216km/h.
At a glance:
- Five elderly people in Okinawa suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
- Power was cut to 14,000 buildings in Japan, while flights were cancelled in Okinawa, China and Taiwan.
- China expected landfall between late Sunday and early Monday, most likely between Zhoushan in Zhejiang province and Fuding in Fujian province.
- Rain and strong winds were expected across eastern China through August 12, with more than 600mm of rain possible in parts of eastern Zhejiang.
China prepares for the storm
China’s national authorities declared a level-three emergency response as Dolphin approached the eastern and southern coast. The China National Meteorological Centre forecast landfall between late Sunday and early Monday, most likely along the coast between Zhoushan and Fuding.
Related coverage: Strong Typhoon Noul Hits Southern China and Hong Kong, Forcing Over 715,000 to Evacuate.
Zhejiang raised its coastal typhoon alert to the highest level, halted port operations and suspended 162 passenger ferry routes. Ningbo ordered schools and other educational facilities closed, suspended water-related activities for the weekend, and said Ningbo Lishe International Airport would stop operations from 11:30pm Saturday and suspend all flights on Sunday.
Ports, rail services and flights disrupted
Shanghai’s Yangshan port was cleared of vessels, while some rail services in the Yangtze River Delta were due to be suspended from Sunday. Authorities also closed tourist sites as the storm approached.
Taiwan cancelled 63 international flights and expected heavy rain in northern areas over the weekend. Authorities had not ordered evacuations there as of Saturday.
More context: China increases maritime law enforcement east of Taiwan, signaling strategic containment.
A long Pacific journey
Dolphin developed from a tropical depression that emerged on July 26 and travelled several thousand kilometres across the Pacific. It strengthened from a tropical storm to a severe tropical storm, then became a typhoon and a very strong typhoon on July 28.
The storm was named after Hong Kong’s Chinese white dolphin. Its arrival came during a record-breaking heatwave in East Asia; three lions in a Japanese zoo died from suspected heatstroke, while extreme temperatures in South Korea were blamed for more than 20 deaths.
Dispute over Taiwan Strait instructions
China ordered ships passing through the Taiwan Strait to follow its traffic-control instructions because of the typhoon. Taipei denounced the measure as “ridiculous” and said Beijing had no right to restrict access to international waters.
China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, while Taipei rejects that claim. The strategic strait is also claimed by China.
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