Typhoon Dolphin battered southern Japan on Friday (August 7), bringing strong winds, heavy rain and high waves that forced widespread disruptions, including the cancellation of more than 500 flights and the temporary closure of businesses.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the Category 1 typhoon was approaching a chain of islands between the Kyushu region and Okinawa prefecture with maximum sustained winds of 144 kilometers per hour (89.5 mph) and gusts reaching up to 198 kph.
Authorities ordered nearly 260,000 residents in Kagoshima and Okinawa prefectures to evacuate as the storm threatened to intensify conditions across the region. Toyota also suspended operations at nine factories as a precaution.
Weather officials warned that Typhoon Dolphin was expected to maintain its strength as it moved closer to Okinawa, increasing the risk of destructive winds capable of damaging buildings, along with dangerous coastal conditions and heavy rainfall.
