Japanese authorities have cancelled over 500 flights on Friday and ordered immediate evacuation for hundreds of thousands as deadly Typhoon Dolphin approaches the southwestern region of the country with heavy rains and violent winds.

“Due to Typhoon Dolphin, some of the flights to/from the following airports are being affected. Expansion of affected flights that will be cancelled or delayed is expected depending on the path of Typhoon Dolphin,” Japan Airlines announced on Friday.

While flights are cancelled and evacuations are ramped up, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) warned that the Category 1 typhoon had maximum sustained winds of 144 kph (89.5 mph), with gusts reaching 198 kph, and was nearing a chain of islands between the Kyushu region and Okinawa Prefecture.

About 260,000 residents of Kagoshima and Okinawa prefectures have been ordered to evacuate.

Japan’s automobile giant, Toyota, has also suspended work in nine of its plants in anticipation of the disruptive Typhoon Dolphin.

Schools and other commercial activities will be disrupted in the affected areas as Typhoon Dolphin is expected to sweep through with violent winds and torrential rains, causing destructive floods.