Massive storm disrupts transport and threatens eastern China with flooding and landslides
Mass evacuations across eastern China
More than one million people have been evacuated from their homes in eastern China as Typhoon Dolphin made landfall, bringing powerful winds and torrential rain to the region.
The storm first struck Yuhuan in Zhejiang province at around 17:30 local time on Sunday, with maximum winds of 150km/h (94mph), before making a second landfall near Wenzhou about an hour later.
Authorities had earlier issued their highest-level red alert for the typhoon before downgrading it to a tropical storm on Monday morning.
Transport severely disrupted
The storm brought widespread disruption to transport across eastern China, with around 1,400 flights cancelled in Shanghai alone.
Passenger ferry services were also suspended in coastal areas, while more than 100 offshore construction projects were halted in Fujian province.
Officials urged residents to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary travel as the storm moved inland.
Flooding and landslide warnings
Although Dolphin has weakened, authorities continue to warn of torrential rainfall, flooding and landslides through Wednesday.
Heavy rain has been forecast for several provinces, including Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, as well as Shanghai.
Parts of Zhejiang could receive between 250mm and 500mm of rain over the coming days.
Footage from state media showed flooded businesses and streets in parts of Shanghai, with residents walking through ankle-deep water.
Hundreds of thousands moved to safety
Wenzhou authorities relocated about 900,000 residents and opened more than 1,000 emergency shelters.
Another 390,000 people were evacuated from their homes in Taizhou, while officials in Hangzhou waived parking fees in public spaces for people seeking shelter from the storm.
Several major tourist attractions, including parts of Disneyland and Legoland, were closed, while viewing platforms along Shanghai’s Bund were also shut.
Authorities have not reported any confirmed deaths in China, although state media said a nine-year-old boy from Wenling in Zhejiang was missing after reportedly being swept into the sea.
Storm causes damage across Asia
Before reaching China, Dolphin brought heavy rain to the Philippines, northern Taiwan and Japan’s Okinawa island.
Eight people have died in the Philippines following heavy monsoon rains linked to Dolphin and other storms, while more than 7,000 people have moved to evacuation centres.
In Okinawa, five elderly people suffered non-life-threatening injuries, with three reportedly falling because of strong winds.
Hong Kong also recorded a record temperature of 36.9°C on Sunday as the storm pushed warm air across the city.
Warnings over misinformation
Chinese authorities have also warned about misinformation surrounding the storm.
State media reported that two people were detained for allegedly spreading misleading content, including an AI-generated video falsely claiming someone had fallen from a building during the storm.
Officials say the storm travelled about 6,000km before reaching China, contributing to its unusually long lifespan and extensive rainfall.
