Typhoon Dolphin Grounds Flights in Okinawa
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- Typhoon Dolphin passed just north of Okinawa's main island Friday with maximum sustained winds of 144 kph (89 mph), per the Japan Meteorological Agency
- Naha Airport on Okinawa closed Friday, canceling all domestic and international flights in and out of the island
- Okinawa prefecture reported three men in their 70s sustained minor injuries from wind-related incidents, and 240 people had taken shelter at evacuation centers by midday Friday
- Kyushu residents whose homes were damaged by last week's deadly earthquake were placing blue tarps over roofs and walls to prevent water damage from the incoming storm
- The Japan Meteorological Agency forecast strong winds, heavy rain, and high waves in the Okinawa region through Sunday, urging residents to stay indoors
- The storm is expected to weaken over the weekend as it heads toward China's eastern coast, where landfall is projected for Monday morning
Why it matters: Okinawa's main airport — the sole major aviation hub serving Japan's southwestern island chain — was fully shuttered, stranding travelers and disrupting regional logistics. The storm's second-order threat to earthquake-damaged Kyushu structures compounds an active disaster recovery, and its projected Monday landfall on China's eastern coast will extend the disruption beyond Japan.
