Typhoon Dolphin shuts Okinawa airport, forces evacuations

Typhoon Dolphin, a slow-moving storm, is bearing down on Japan's southern islands, forcing the closure of Okinawa's main airport and driving hundreds of residents into evacuation centers.

The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that as of late Friday morning, the typhoon was positioned near Yoron Island, moving west toward the main island of Okinawa. The storm is packing maximum sustained winds of 144 kilometers per hour (89 mph).

Naha Airport on Okinawa Island has been shut down for the day, with all domestic and international flights in and out of the facility canceled. By midday Friday, local authorities confirmed that 240 people had sought refuge at evacuation centers across the prefecture.

The Okinawa prefectural government reported three minor injuries, all involving men in their 70s. Two were caught in the wind, while a third fell from a stool that was apparently blown over by a gust while he was preparing for the storm.

The weather agency has issued warnings for strong winds, heavy rainfall, and high waves across the Okinawa region through Sunday, urging residents to remain indoors. The storm's impact is also expected to extend to parts of Kyushu, Japan's southern main island, where residents are still recovering from last week's deadly earthquake. Many are placing blue tarps over damaged roofs and walls to protect their homes from the incoming rain.

Forecasters predict Dolphin will continue its westward track, potentially making landfall on China's eastern coast by Monday morning.