Typhoon Dolphin has knocked out power to at least 44,000 buildings and injured five people after striking Japan’s Okinawa island on Saturday.
Flights to and from Naha International Airport, Okinawa’s main airport, were cancelled after the facility closed on Friday as Typhoon Dolphin approached the island.
The powerful storm recorded maximum wind speeds of 162km/h (101mph) on Saturday. Japan’s Meteorological Agency classified Dolphin as a “very strong” typhoon and warned of dangerous waves, storm surges and lightning.
Typhoon Dolphin is forecast to reach China’s eastern coast late on Sunday or early Monday. Authorities have closed ports and schools in preparation for the storm’s arrival.
Okinawa and the nearby Amami Islands in south-western Japan are the areas most affected by the typhoon.
According to the Okinawan prefectural government, five elderly people sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Three of those injured reportedly fell because of the typhoon’s powerful winds.
Japan’s national broadcaster NHK reported that strong winds toppled trees across Nago city in Okinawa. A car was also found overturned and leaking oil in a parking area.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk