Typhoon Dolphin Hits Japan, Heads Toward China's Coast

Typhoon Dolphin battered Japan's Okinawa prefecture on Saturday and injured five people three from falls in the wind and cutting power to 14,000 buildings as Okinawan prefectural government said. As of 0300 GMT, the storm sat 160 km northwest of Kume Island also moving northwest at 15 kph with sustained winds of 162 kph and gusts up to 216 kph according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Airlines ANA and Japan Airlines cancelled flights to the region. Okinawa and Amami island in Kagoshima are the areas most affected.

China is bracing for landfall between late Sunday and early Monday, likely between Zhoushan (Zhejiang) and Fuding (Fujian) with winds of 38-45 metres per second near the centre as China National Meteorological Centre said. Rain and strong winds will affect eastern China including Shanghai through August 12 with parts of eastern Zhejiang expected to see over 600 mm of rainfall.

Zhejiang raised its typhoon alert to the highest level of halted port operations and suspended 162 ferry routes. Ningbo Lishe International Airport will close from 11:30 p.m. Saturday through Sunday, Shanghai's Yangshan port has been cleared of vessels, and some Yangtze River Delta rail services will pause from Sunday.

In Taiwan, 63 international flights were cancelled and heavy rain is expected in the north, though no evacuations have been ordered. China ordered ships in the Taiwan Strait to follow its traffic instructions during the storm a move Taipei called "ridiculous" arguing Beijing cannot restrict international waters. China claims Taiwan as its own territory both Taipei and Washington reject this.