Typhoon Dolphin: Hongkongers stuck in Okinawa prepare for low supplies, power cuts

Hong Kong holidaymakers in Okinawa on Friday contended with depleted supermarket shelves, potential power cuts and violent weather as Typhoon Dolphin shut the Japanese island’s main airport and disrupted every direct flight home.

Social media images shared by Hong Kong-linked travel accounts showed empty bread shelves and torrential rain sweeping parts of the popular destination, although travellers said conditions varied significantly across the island.

Hong Kong travel account Papa Traveller said northern Okinawa, including the area around the Churaumi Aquarium, was experiencing “extremely heavy wind and rain”, while Naha in the south was temporarily caught in a gap between rainbands.

A Cantonese-language Okinawa page also posted a photograph of empty supermarket shelves and urged visitors, especially those staying in central and northern areas, to prepare candles and drinking water due to the possibility of electricity and water cuts.

But one traveller staying in Mihama observed calmer conditions, saying two major supermarkets still had sufficient supplies and there had been no panic buying.

Several major attractions and shopping centres, including DMM Kariyushi Aquarium and Aeon Mall Okinawa Rycom, were also closed on Friday because of the storm.

More than 500 flights were cancelled across southwestern Japan, and nearly 260,000 residents in Okinawa and Kagoshima prefectures were ordered to evacuate amid warnings of violent winds, heavy rain and high waves.