Typhoon Dolphin's Initial Impact on Japan
Typhoon Dolphin made landfall on Japan's southern island of Okinawa, resulting in minor injuries to five individuals and disrupting power to approximately 14,000 structures. The Okinawan prefectural government reported that the injured were elderly, with three sustaining injuries from falls attributed to strong winds. The primary areas affected in Japan include Okinawa Island and Amami Island in Kagoshima prefecture.
The typhoon's arrival led to numerous flight cancellations across Okinawa, as well as in China and Taiwan. This weather event coincides with a period of extreme heat across East Asia, which has seen record-breaking temperatures. Incidents reported during this heatwave include the suspected heatstroke deaths of three lions in a Japanese zoo and over 20 fatalities in South Korea attributed to the high temperatures.
The Genesis and Strengthening of Typhoon Dolphin
Typhoon Dolphin originated from a tropical depression that formed on July 26. It began its journey across the Central Pacific Ocean, covering several thousand kilometers at an initial speed of 45 kilometers per hour (30 miles per hour). Over its trajectory, the system progressively intensified, evolving from a tropical storm to a severe tropical storm, and subsequently strengthening into a typhoon and then a very strong typhoon by July 28.
As of 03:00 GMT on Saturday, the Japan Meteorological Agency reported that Dolphin was situated approximately 160 kilometers (100 miles) northwest of Kume Island in Okinawa. The typhoon was observed to be moving northwest at a speed of 15 kilometers per hour (9 miles per hour), maintaining maximum sustained winds of 162 kilometers per hour (100 miles per hour) with gusts reaching up to 216 kilometers per hour (134 miles per hour).
Anticipated Impact and Preparations in China
As Typhoon Dolphin shifts its path towards China's eastern coast, national authorities have initiated a level-three emergency response, which is the second-lowest tier in their emergency classification system.
The China National Meteorological Centre forecasts that Typhoon Dolphin is likely to make landfall along China's eastern and southern coast between late Sunday and early Monday. The most probable area for landfall is projected to be between Zhoushan city in Zhejiang province and Fuding city in Fujian province. Forecasters anticipate that eastern China, including parts of Shanghai and neighboring provinces, will experience heavy rainfall and strong winds through August 12. Specifically, some regions in eastern Zhejiang could receive more than 600 millimeters (23.6 inches) of rain.
Extensive Precautionary Measures
In response to the approaching typhoon, Zhejiang province has elevated its coastal typhoon alert to the highest level. This has prompted the cessation of port operations and the suspension of 162 passenger ferry routes. In Ningbo, one of the province’s largest cities, authorities have mandated the closure of schools, other educational facilities, and all water-related activities for the weekend. Ningbo Lishe International Airport in Zhejiang also announced that it would halt operations from 11:30 PM (15:30 GMT) on Saturday and cancel all flights scheduled for Sunday.
Further north, Shanghai’s Yangshan port has been cleared of all vessels as a precautionary measure. Additionally, certain rail services in the Yangtze River Delta region are slated for suspension starting Sunday.
Taiwan's Response and Regional Tensions
Taiwan has also experienced disruptions due to the typhoon, with the government announcing the cancellation of 63 international flights. While heavy rain was expected in the northern parts of the island over the weekend, authorities had not issued evacuation orders as of Saturday.
Amidst the typhoon preparations, China issued directives requiring ships transiting the Taiwan Strait to adhere to its traffic control instructions. Taipei, however, strongly criticized these instructions, labeling them as “ridiculous” and asserting that Beijing lacks the authority to restrict access to international waters. This directive underscores existing geopolitical tensions, as China considers democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and claims sovereignty over the strategic strait, a claim that Taipei consistently rejects.
