Typhoon Delfin has battered the southern Japanese prefecture of Okinawa, injuring six people and leaving more than 50,000 properties without power. Meanwhile, China has closed ports and suspended ferry services in anticipation of the storm's arrival on its east coast.
In Okinawa, five elderly people were injured, three of whom fell due to strong winds. Another person was injured in Kagoshima Prefecture. Authorities said the injuries were not life-threatening.
About 39,000 properties in Kagoshima were left without power, while more than 12,000 were affected in Okinawa. Japanese airlines ANA and Japan Airlines canceled flights to and from Okinawa.
The typhoon has brought winds of up to 162 km/h, while wind gusts have reached 216 km/h. Okinawa and Amami Island are expected to be the hardest hit areas in Japan.
In China, the typhoon is expected to make landfall between Sunday evening and Monday morning. Authorities have given the storm an orange alert, the second highest level, and raised the emergency response level due to the risk of flooding and landslides.
According to the China National Meteorological Center, the typhoon is expected to hit between Zhoushan city in Zhejiang province and Fuding city in Fujian province. Near the center of the storm, winds could reach speeds of 38 to 45 meters per second.
Heavy rain and strong winds are expected to hit eastern China until August 12, including Shanghai and surrounding provinces. Some areas in Zhejiang are expected to receive more than 600 millimeters of rain.
Zhejiang province has raised its coastal typhoon warning to its highest level, suspended port operations and cut 162 ferry services. Fujian has also suspended some ferry services.
Ningbo Lishe International Airport in Zhejiang has announced the suspension of operations and flight cancellations, while Yangshan Port in Shanghai has been emptied of ships. Several railway lines in the Yangtze River Delta are also expected to be suspended.
Taiwan has also been hit by the typhoon, with 78 international flights cancelled. Authorities are expecting heavy rain in northern parts of the island over the weekend.
Meanwhile, China has ordered ships passing through the Taiwan Strait to comply with its guidelines for controlling maritime traffic. Taipei has opposed the move, saying Beijing has no right to restrict traffic in international waters. /Telegraph/
