Typhoon Dolphin hits Japan's Okinawa as China shuts ports ahead of landfall

Typhoon Dolphin lashed Japan's southern Okinawa prefecture on Saturday, injuring five people and cutting power to 14,000 buildings.

China shut ports and ferry routes along its eastern coast ahead of the storm's expected landfall between late Sunday and early Monday, according to Japanese and Chinese weather authorities.

How much damage has Typhoon Dolphin caused in Okinawa?

Typhoon Dolphin brought maximum sustained winds of 162 kph and gusts up to 216 kph to Okinawa. Five elderly residents suffered non-life-threatening injuries, mostly from falls in the wind, prefectural officials said.

Domestic carriers ANA and Japan Airlines cancelled flights to the region as the storm approached Kume Island.

Where is Typhoon Dolphin located now?

The storm was about 160 km northwest of Kume Island in Okinawa as of 0300 GMT, moving northwest at 15 kph, Japan's Meteorological Agency said. Okinawa and Amami island in Kagoshima prefecture remain the areas most at risk in Japan. Authorities continue to monitor the typhoon's track as it moves toward China's eastern coast.

Where will Typhoon Dolphin make landfall in China?

China's National Meteorological Centre expects Typhoon Dolphin to make landfall along the country's eastern and southern coast between late Sunday and early Monday.

Landfall is most likely between Zhoushan city in Zhejiang province and Fuding city in Fujian province. The storm is expected to bring winds of 38 to 45 metres per second near its centre.

How is China preparing for Typhoon Dolphin?

Rain and strong winds are expected to affect eastern China through August 12, including Shanghai and neighbouring provinces. Some areas of eastern Zhejiang could receive more than 600 mm of rain, forecasters said. Zhejiang raised its coastal typhoon alert to the highest level, halted port operations and suspended 162 passenger ferry routes.

Ningbo Lishe International Airport in Zhejiang will halt operations from 11:30 p.m. Saturday and suspend all flights on Sunday. Shanghai's Yangshan port had been cleared of vessels by late Friday. Some rail services in the Yangtze River Delta will be suspended from Sunday.

How is Taiwan affected by Typhoon Dolphin?

Taiwan cancelled 63 international flights because of the typhoon, the government said. Heavy rain was expected in the island's northern parts over the weekend, though authorities had not ordered evacuations as of Saturday. China separately ordered that ships passing through the Taiwan Strait must follow its traffic control instructions during the typhoon.

Taipei denounced the order as "ridiculous," saying Beijing has no right to restrict access to international waters. China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and also claims the strategic strait. Both Taipei and Washington reject that claim.