Hundreds of thousands of residents in southwestern Japan have been ordered to evacuate as Typhoon Dolphin approaches the region, bringing the threat of destructive winds, torrential rain and dangerous waves.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said the Category 1 storm was moving slowly towards the island chain between Kyushu and Okinawa on Friday, with sustained winds of up to 144kph and gusts reaching 198kph.
Evacuation orders have been issued for nearly 260,000 residents across Kagoshima and Okinawa prefectures as authorities warned of worsening weather conditions.
The powerful typhoon is expected to maintain its strength as it nears Okinawa, with officials cautioning that strong winds could damage or even collapse buildings. Meteorologists also warned that a linear rain band could develop, bringing intense rainfall, thunderstorms and an increased risk of flash floods.
The storm has already disrupted transport across the region, with more than 500 flights cancelled. Meanwhile, Japanese automaker Toyota temporarily suspended operations at nine factories on Friday as a precaution.
Typhoon Dolphin is also battering large parts of Kyushu, including Kumamoto Prefecture, which is still recovering from last week’s magnitude 7.1 earthquake. Around 6,700 residents remain in evacuation centres after many homes were destroyed.
Adding to the challenges, the weather agency has warned of extreme heat after the typhoon, with temperatures expected to climb as high as 36°C in some areas, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses.
