TOKYO, Japan — Typhoon Dolphin battered Japan’s southern Okinawa region on Friday, forcing the closure of Naha Airport, canceling hundreds of flights, and prompting the evacuation of nearly 260,000 residents as powerful winds and heavy rains swept across the area.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported that Typhoon Dolphin was packing maximum sustained winds of about 144 kilometers per hour, with gusts reaching 198 kph, as it moved slowly near Okinawa. Authorities warned of destructive winds, torrential rain, dangerous waves, flooding, and possible landslides through the weekend.
Naha Airport, Okinawa’s main gateway, suspended all domestic and international flights as the typhoon passed over the region. More than 500 flights were canceled, stranding thousands of travelers. Ferry services were also suspended, while local governments opened evacuation centers for residents in vulnerable coastal and low-lying communities.
Japanese authorities said at least three elderly men sustained minor injuries, including two who were caught by strong winds and another who fell while preparing his home for the storm. Emergency officials continued to urge residents to remain indoors until weather conditions improve.
The typhoon also affected parts of Kyushu, where thousands of residents remain displaced following last week’s magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture. Officials warned that heavy rainfall could trigger flooding and landslides in already damaged communities, while many homeowners have covered damaged roofs with tarpaulins to reduce further water damage.
According to the JMA, Dolphin is expected to gradually weaken over the weekend as it tracks westward before making landfall along China’s eastern coast early next week.
Typhoon Dolphin is the latest in a series of tropical cyclones to affect East Asia during the current typhoon season. Meteorologists continue to monitor its movement as it crosses the East China Sea toward mainland China.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
