Typhoon Dolphin Delivers Devastation in Okinawa, Heads Toward China

Sun Sep 06 2026 03:23:38 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A powerful Typhoon Dolphin cuts power and injures residents in Okinawa while paving its way toward China’s eastern coast.

Typhoon Dolphin hurled fierce winds across Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture on Saturday, knocking out power for at least 44,000 buildings, tipping cars, toppling trees and injuring five elders. Flights at Naha International Airport were halted and the Japan Meteorological Agency upgraded the storm to a “very strong” typhoon, citing high waves and possible storm surge. The system is poised to strike China’s eastern coast late Sunday or Monday, prompting officials in Zhejiang to suspend flights and shut ports and schools. This year’s strong El Niño conditions are expected to intensify tropical storms across the western Pacific.

Typhoon Dolphin has battered Japan’s Okinawa island on Saturday, cutting power to at least 44,000 buildings and leaving 5 people reported wounded.

The island’s main airport, Naha International Airport, was closed for the day as the storm slammed into the region, causing all flights to be cancelled.

The Japan Meteorological Agency categorized the storm as a "very strong" typhoon, with maximum‑speed winds of 162 km/h (101 mph). It warned of especially high waves, storm surge and lightning strikes.

In the foothills of Nago city, trees were toppled and a car was overturned, spilling oil into a parking lot, according to NHK reports. Five elderly residents suffered non‑life‑threatening injuries, three of which were caused by the gale force winds.

Expected Impact on China

Typhoon Dolphin will head toward China’s eastern coast and is expected to make landfall late on Sunday or early on Monday. Zhejiang province has raised a coastal typhoon alert to its highest level, shutting ports, ferries and schools, and suspending flight operations at Ningbo Lishe International Airport from 23:30 local time on Saturday.

If the typhoon moves along the predicted track, it could strike as far east as the Saishin coastline. Meteorologists note that this year’s El Niño upticks the intensity of tropical storms in the Pacific, adding to the likelihood of severe weather.

In an average year, about 25 cyclones reach tropical‑storm strength in the western Pacific, with roughly three making landfall in Japan. When these cross the threshold into typhoon strength, as Dolphin has on its way toward the continent, they bring higher damage risk.

A tropical cyclone is the term used for storms that form in the northwest Pacific, while hurricanes refer to storms in the Atlantic or eastern Pacific. The difference is largely geographic, but the impacts are similarly severe.

As Typhoon Dolphin continues its course, authorities in both Japan and China remain on alert, preparing for high winds, storm surge and flash flooding on the approaching coastlines.