Typhoon Dolphin hits southern Japan: Airport closes in Okinawa
Advertisement

news/weather

Several people were injured as the powerful storm slammed Japan. Here's the latest.

ByThe Associated Press
August 7, 2026Updated: August 7, 2026, 9:47 am EDTPublished: August 7, 2026, 9:30 am EDT
Two people share an umbrella walking past a shisa statue on a rainy Japanese shopping street with palm trees

People walk in the rain as typhoon Dolphin approaches the city, in Naha, Japan, Friday, Aug. 7, 2026. (Satsuki Watarai/Kyodo News via AP)

TOKYO (AP) — Typhoon Dolphin moved over Japan's southern remote islands Friday, 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 centers.

The typhoon was just north of the main island of Okinawa with maximum winds of 89 mph as of Friday 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.

Weather in your inbox
By signing up you agree to the Terms & Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe at any time.

(MORE: Another heat wave targets Europe next week)

Satellite image of a large spiral cyclone with a visible eye swirling over the ocean

Typhoon Dolphin is seen nearing Okinawa on satellite imagery taken on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2026. (Himawari-9/CIRA)

The Naha Airport on Okinawa Island said it closed Friday and all domestic and international flights in and out of Naha have been canceled.

As of midday Friday, 240 people had taken shelter at evacuation centers across Okinawa, the prefecture said.

Get More of Our News on Google

Set The Weather Company as a 'Preferred Source' to get quicker access to the news you value.

With Dolphin expected to affect part of Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu, residents whose houses were damaged by last week’s deadly earthquake were placing blue tarps on roofs and walls to prevent water damage.

The agency predicted strong winds, heavy rain and high waves in the Okinawa region through Sunday, urging residents in the area to stay indoors.

The storm will weaken over the weekend as it heads toward China’s eastern coast, where it is expected to make landfall Monday morning.

Loading comments...

Advertisement