Japan orders evacuations and cancels 500 flights as Typhoon Dolphin approaches

Japanese authorities issued evacuation orders and canceled over 500 flights on Friday as the Category 1 Typhoon Dolphin drew near, bringing with it powerful winds, torrential rain, and towering waves. The typhoon, with maximum sustained winds of 144 kph and gusts reaching 198 kph, was heading towards a chain of islands between Kyushu and Okinawa Prefecture.

Evacuation orders were issued for nearly 260,000 residents in Kagoshima and Okinawa prefectures, while Toyota suspended operations at nine factories due to concerns over disruptions in ocean shipping of finished vehicles. Authorities warned that the typhoon's strength was expected to persist as it approached Okinawa, posing a risk of damaging or collapsing structures. A narrow band of intense precipitation and thunderstorms could also develop, potentially causing flooding.

The typhoon was impacting the southernmost main island of Kyushu, including Kumamoto Prefecture, which is still grappling with the aftermath of a magnitude 7.1 earthquake the previous week. Around 6,700 residents in Kumamoto remained in evacuation centers after many houses were destroyed. The meteorological agency also issued warnings about the risk of heatstroke, with temperatures expected to soar to 36 degrees Celsius in some areas.