Typhoon Dolphin battered Japan’s southern Okinawa prefecture on Saturday, injuring six people and leaving more than 50,000 buildings without power, as China closed ports and suspended ferry services ahead of the storm’s expected arrival along its eastern coast.
Five elderly people in Okinawa suffered non-life-threatening injuries, including three who fell because of strong winds, while another person was injured in Kagoshima prefecture, authorities said.
Nearly 39,000 buildings in Kagoshima were without power, while just over 12,000 in Okinawa were affected. Japan’s two major domestic carriers, All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines, canceled flights to and from Okinawa.
Dolphin had maximum sustained winds of 162 kph (101 mph), with gusts reaching 216 kph (134 mph).
Okinawa and Amami Island in Kagoshima prefecture were among the main areas expected to be affected in Japan.
