Typhoon Dolphin has cut power to at least 44,000 buildings and injured at least five people after hitting Japan’s Okinawa island on Saturday, the Okinawan prefectural government said. The storm, which brought wind speeds of up to 162km/h (101mph), was classified as a “very strong” typhoon by the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Storm Causes Widespread Disruption in Okinawa

Flights to and from Okinawa’s main airport—Naha International Airport,were cancelled as it closed on Friday ahead of the storm’s arrival, as the Japan Meteorological Agency warned of high waves, storm surges, and lightning strikes, urging residents to remain indoors. Five elderly people suffered non-life-threatening injuries, three of whom fell due to the strong winds, according to local officials.

Japan’s national broadcaster NHK reported that numerous trees were toppled by the strong winds in Nago city; In one incident, a car was found overturned and leaking oil in a parking lot. The storm has affected the islands of Okinawa and Amami in the far south-west of Japan.

China Prepares for Landfall with Evacuations and Closures

Dolphin is expected to make landfall on China’s eastern coast late Sunday or early Monday; Authorities in the Chinese province of Zhejiang have raised a coastal typhoon alert to its highest level. Ningbo Lishe International Airport announced it would stop its operations from 23:30 local time on Saturday (15:30 GMT) and suspend all flights on Sunday.

Port and ferry services have also been halted in the province in preparation for the typhoon, the storm is the latest to form in the western Pacific, a region that typically sees between 25 cyclones reach tropical storm strength each year. Around three of these typically make landfall in Japan, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

El Niño Conditions Intensify Storm Intensity

This year is a strong El Niño year, which experts say increases the potential for typhoons to become more intense, and Typhoon season in the western Pacific typically occurs between May and October, when such storms are more common. Typhoon is the term used for storms that form in the north-west Pacific, whereas a hurricane is the term used for storms that form in the Atlantic or eastern Pacific.

As Typhoon Dolphin moves toward China, authorities continue to monitor the storm’s path and issue warnings to minimize damage and protect public safety.