NAHA — Evacuation orders were issued for nearly 260,000 residents in Okinawa and Kagoshima prefectures as Typhoon Dolphin brought strong winds, heavy rain and high waves to southwestern Japan, authorities said on Friday.
The storm, classified as a Category 1 typhoon, was approaching the region with sustained winds of about 144 kph and gusts reaching 198 kph, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Authorities warned that prolonged rainfall could trigger flooding and landslides, while strong winds and high waves posed additional risks.
Okinawa was among the areas placed under heightened alert as Dolphin moved northwest after passing through the island region. Weather News reported that as of Saturday morning the typhoon was about 100 km northwest of Kumejima and continuing northwest, with adverse weather expected to persist across Okinawa.
Japan's evacuation system uses graded alerts, with Level 4 corresponding to an instruction for residents in hazardous areas to evacuate and Level 3 calling on older people and others who need more time to move to safety to evacuate.
The evacuation orders came as authorities also imposed wide-ranging disruptions to transportation. More than 500 flights were canceled as the storm approached, while Toyota suspended operations at nine factories, according to Reuters.
The storm also affected parts of Kyushu, including Kumamoto prefecture, which was still dealing with the aftermath of a recent magnitude 7.1 earthquake. About 6,700 people remained in evacuation centers there, adding to pressure on local authorities as the typhoon brought another severe-weather threat.
By Saturday, Dolphin had struck Japan, injuring five elderly people, according to Al Jazeera, while power outages were reported in Okinawa.
Authorities continued to urge residents in affected areas to follow evacuation instructions and monitor official weather and disaster information as the typhoon moved away from Okinawa toward China.
