Typhoon Dolphin moved over Japan’s southern remote islands causing a main airport on Okinawa to close and grounding all flights in and out of the island, while sending hundreds of people to take shelter at evacuation centres.
The typhoon was just north of the main island of Okinawa with maximum winds of 144kph as of yesterday afternoon, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Three men in their 70s were slightly injured – two of them were caught in the wind and a third one fell from a stool, apparently blown off by the wind while preparing for the storm, the Okinawa prefecture said.
The Naha Airport on Okinawa Island said it closed yesterday and all domestic and international flights in and out of Naha have been cancelled.
As of midday yesterday, 240 people had taken shelter at evacuation centres across Okinawa, the prefecture said.
The agency predicted strong winds, heavy rain and high waves in the Okinawa region through tomorrow, urging residents in the area to stay indoors. — AP
