The nation shut ports and ferry routes ahead of Typhoon Dolphin's expected arrival on its east coast as the storm lashed Japan's southern Okinawa prefecture on Saturday, injuring five people and cutting power to 14,000 buildings.

The storm was about 160 kilometres northwest of Kume Island in Okinawa as of 11am, moving northwest at 15 kilometres per hour, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

The National Meteorological Centre said Typhoon Dolphin was expected to make landfall along the country's eastern and southern coast between late Sunday and early Monday, most likely between Zhoushan city, Zhejiang, and Fuding city in Fujian.

It is expected to bring winds of around 136 to 162 kmh near its centre.

Rain and strong winds are expected to affect eastern China through August 12, including parts of Shanghai and neighbouring provinces. Some areas of eastern Zhejiang could receive more than 600 millimetres of rain, according to forecasters.

Zhejiang raised its coastal typhoon alert to its highest level, halted port operations and suspended 162 passenger ferry routes.

Ningbo Lishe International Airport in Zhejiang said it will halt operations from 11.30pm on Saturday and suspend all flights on Sunday. Shanghai's Yangshan port had been cleared of vessels by late Friday, while some rail services in the Yangtze River Delta will be suspended from Sunday.

In Taiwan, 63 flights were cancelled because of the typhoon.

The Okinawan prefectural government said five elderly people suffered non-life-threatening injuries, with three falling due to the wind. Domestic airlines ANA and Japan Airlines cancelled flights to the region.

The typhoon had maximum sustained winds of 162 kmh with gusts reaching 216 kmh.

Okinawa and Amami island in Kagoshima prefecture are the main areas expected to be affected in Japan. (Reuters)




Edited by Azam Khan