More than a million people were evacuated in eastern China as Typhoon Dolphin made landfall on Sunday, bringing 150km/h winds and widespread disruptions. Authorities downgraded the alert to a tropical storm, but heavy rain and flooding risks persist through Wednesday.
China evacuated more than a million residents in eastern provinces as Typhoon Dolphin, packing winds of 150km/h (94mph), struck the coast on Sunday evening. The storm made two landfalls in Zhejiang province within hours, triggering transportation shutdowns, flight cancellations, and warnings of torrential rain and landslides through midweek.
Evacuations and Transportation Disruptions
Authorities in Shanghai and Zhejiang province evacuated more than a million people ahead of the typhoon’s arrival, with 1,400–1,500 flights canceled in Shanghai alone. The storm’s outer bands forced the closure of major tourist attractions, including parts of Disneyland and Legoland, while the Bund’s viewing platforms remained inaccessible.
Wenzhou, the second city to face the storm, relocated over 900,000 residents to emergency shelters. Al Jazeera reported that offshore workers were moved to safety, and vessels were ordered back to port. Reuters noted the typhoon had earlier injured six people in Japan’s Okinawa prefecture before intensifying over China’s eastern coast.
A 42-year-old tourist from Guangdong, surnamed Chen, described the storm as as ordinary as having a meal and feeling the wind,
according to The Guardian. Despite the evacuation orders, Chen’s family was stranded after their flight was canceled but later rebooked for Monday.
The storm’s maximum sustained winds reached 42 metres per second (151 km/h) at landfall, equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, according to Al Jazeera. Fujian maritime authorities suspended 55 coastal passenger ferry routes, halted 115 offshore construction projects, and moved 290 construction vessels to sheltered waters, Reuters reported.
Forecast of Torrential Rain and Flooding
Forecasts predicted 250–500mm (10–20 inches) of rain across Zhejiang, Shanghai, and neighboring provinces, with Wang Haiping, chief forecaster at the National Meteorological Centre, warning that the storm’s slow movement could exacerbate flooding risks. The Guardian cited Wang’s statement that the slower movement could prolong heavy rain and increase the risk of flooding and landslides, especially in mountainous areas and along smaller rivers.
Authorities in Fujian evacuated 98,900 people from high-risk zones, while maritime officials suspended 55 coastal ferry routes and 115 offshore construction projects. The BBC reported that Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Anhui, and Jiangsu provinces faced heavy rain on Monday, with flood and landslide alerts extending through Wednesday.
Reuters said the storm’s impact included warnings of flooding and landslides through August 10, with parts of central and eastern Zhejiang potentially receiving 250–500 mm (9.8–19.7 inches) of rain.
Local Reactions and Preparedness
Despite the scale of the evacuation, some residents downplayed the typhoon’s severity. Chen, the Guangdong tourist, noted that to us Guangdong people, this typhoon is as ordinary as having a meal and feeling the wind.
Local governments urged residents to avoid outdoor activities, while emergency services prepared for potential disasters. The BBC reported that Chinese authorities had initially issued a red alert but later downgraded it to a tropical storm by Monday morning, though the risk of flooding and landslides remained high.
Forecasters predict the storm’s remnants will continue to bring heavy rain to eastern China through August 10, with flood and landslide risks concentrated in Zhejiang, Shanghai, and surrounding regions. Authorities have advised continued caution, particularly in mountainous areas and along smaller waterways. The full impact of the storm, including economic and infrastructural damage, will likely become clearer in the coming days.
