Typhoon Dolphin strands Hongkongers in Okinawa amid disruptions
SCMP · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Typhoon Dolphin disrupted travel between Hong Kong and Okinawa on Friday, leaving Hong Kong holidaymakers stuck on the Japanese island as Naha International Airport closed and all direct flights were cancelled or postponed . Travellers reported sharply different conditions across Okinawa, with northern districts facing extremely heavy wind and rain while some southern areas briefly saw calmer weather between rainbands . Photos shared on Hong Kong-linked travel pages showed depleted supermarket shelves, and visitors in central and northern Okinawa were urged to prepare for possible electricity and water cuts . The Travel Industry Council said the number of affected Hong Kong tour groups appeared limited and that those travellers were safe in their hotels .
Key Points
- All six flights scheduled to depart Hong Kong for Okinawa on Friday were either cancelled or postponed, according to the airport website .
- HK Express cancelled flights 842, 844 and 824, while Hong Kong Airlines cancelled flights 676 and 658 on Friday .
- Greater Bay Airlines flight 336D, due to leave Friday morning, was postponed until 5.15am on Monday amid the typhoon disruption .
- All six Okinawa-to-Hong Kong flights were also disrupted, with five cancelled and one Greater Bay Airlines service delayed until Monday .
- Travel account Papa Traveller said northern Okinawa near Churaumi Aquarium faced extremely heavy wind and rain, while Naha briefly saw a lull .
Why It Matters
The disruption shows how quickly a typhoon can affect both transport links and basic supplies for Hong Kong travellers in a popular regional holiday destination . It also highlights the uneven impact of severe weather within Okinawa itself, where some areas faced harsher conditions and greater concern over power and water interruptions than others .