Typhoon Dolphin shuts Okinawa airport, injures three as it nears Japan

Typhoon Dolphin, a slow-moving storm, is bearing down on Japan's southern islands, forcing the closure of Okinawa's main airport and sending hundreds of residents to evacuation centers. The storm was located near Yoron Island on Friday morning, moving west toward Okinawa's main island with maximum sustained winds of 144 kilometers per hour (89 mph), according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Naha International Airport on Okinawa Island shut down for the day, canceling all domestic and international flights in and out of the city. The closure left the airport terminal empty, with display boards showing a long list of canceled departures and arrivals.

The Okinawa prefectural government reported that three men in their 70s sustained minor injuries — two were knocked over by strong winds, and a third fell from a stool. By midday Friday, 240 people had sought shelter at evacuation centers across the prefecture.

Video footage from the region showed palm trees bending in the gusts, rain lashing streets, and shopkeepers taping up windows and pulling down rolling shutters. Rough seas churned near ferry terminals, and debris was scattered across roads.

The storm is also expected to affect parts of Kyushu, Japan's southern main island. Residents whose homes were damaged by last week's deadly earthquake were seen placing blue tarps over roofs and walls to protect against further water damage.

The weather agency has warned of strong winds, heavy rain, and high waves in the Okinawa region through Sunday, urging people to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.