Payam Javan: Southwestern Japan is facing major disruptions as Typhoon Dolphin, a slow-moving Category 1 storm, approaches the region. The impending severe weather has prompted authorities to issue widespread evacuation orders for hundreds of thousands of residents and has led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), Typhoon Dolphin is carrying maximum sustained winds of 144 kilometers per hour (89.5 mph), with peak gusts reaching up to 198 kilometers per hour. The storm is currently tracking toward a chain of islands situated between the Kyushu region and Okinawa prefecture, maintaining its intensity as it nears land.

In response to the threat, local governments have ordered nearly 260,000 residents in Kagoshima and Okinawa prefectures to evacuate to safer ground. Air travel has been severely affected, with airlines canceling more than 500 flights scheduled for Friday, leaving travelers stranded and disrupting regional transport networks.

The severe weather has also impacted Japan’s industrial sector, forcing major corporations to adjust their operations. Toyota Motor Corporation announced the suspension of work at nine of its domestic factories on Friday to ensure worker safety and prevent supply chain complications amid the storm’s approach.

Weather officials have warned that the storm’s slow movement increases the risk of prolonged violent winds, high waves, and torrential rainfall. The JMA cautioned that a linear rain band—a narrow band of intense precipitation and thunderstorms—could form, significantly raising the potential for severe flooding and structural damage in affected areas.

The arrival of Typhoon Dolphin compounds challenges in the southernmost main island of Kyushu, particularly in Kumamoto prefecture. Kumamoto is still recovering from a powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck the region the previous week, leaving many residential structures severely compromised or destroyed.

Currently, approximately 6,700 Kumamoto residents remain in temporary evacuation centers following the earthquake. Adding to the hardship, meteorological authorities have also issued heatstroke warnings, as temperatures are forecast to reach up to 36 degrees Celsius (97 degrees Fahrenheit) in some of the storm-affected areas, complicating ongoing rescue and relief efforts.