Over one million people have been evacuated across eastern China as Typhoon Dolphin makes landfall, causing widespread flight cancellations and severe flooding risks.
Eastern China is currently grappling with the aftermath of Typhoon Dolphin, a powerful storm system that necessitated the emergency evacuation of over one million residents. The typhoon made landfall in Yuhuan, located in the Zhejiang province, late Sunday afternoon, bringing with it sustained winds reaching speeds of 150 kilometers per hour. The scale of the displacement highlights the severity of the weather event, which has triggered widespread concern regarding infrastructure stability and public safety across the region.
In response to the imminent threat, local authorities implemented large-scale relocation efforts. Wenzhou alone accounted for over 900,000 evacuees, while Taizhou and Shanghai reported tens of thousands more moving to safety. Emergency shelters were activated across the impacted provinces to house those displaced. Beyond residential evacuations, the storm has paralyzed major transport hubs; nearly 40 percent of flights in Shanghai were grounded, and maritime authorities in Fujian suspended dozens of coastal ferry routes to prevent accidents at sea.
As the storm moved inland, it brought torrential downpours that have raised significant concerns about flooding and geohazards. Forecasters warned that parts of central and eastern Zhejiang could experience rainfall totals between 250mm and 500mm. This volume of water poses a critical risk to the region's river systems, specifically the Qiantang, Yong, Jiao, and Shuiyang rivers, which authorities monitor closely for potential breaches of warning levels.
The National Meteorological Centre has indicated that while the storm is losing strength, its slow westward movement could exacerbate the damage. ion of heavy rainfall, significantly increasing the probability of landslides in mountainous terrain. Residents in areas labeled with red mountain-torrent warnings have been urged to comply strictly with evacuation orders as the soil becomes saturated and unstable.
Typhoon Dolphin originated as a tropical depression in the Central Pacific on July 26, gradually intensifying over several days before reaching typhoon status. Before impacting the Chinese mainland, the storm caused significant disruption across the western Pacific, including the Ogasawara Islands in Japan and the Okinawa prefecture, where it caused power outages for 50,000 buildings. Northern Taiwan also reported flight cancellations and ferry suspensions as the outer bands of the storm swept through the region.
The Philippines also felt the influence of the system, which intensified seasonal monsoon rains, leading to severe flooding and landslides. The tragedy in the mountain city of Baguio, where a landslide struck residential properties, serves as a sobering reminder of the environmental risks associated with these powerful weather systems. As of Monday, Dolphin has weakened into a post-tropical cyclone, with meteorologists expecting the system to continue dissipating as it moves further into the interior of China.
Chinese authorities have taken a comprehensive approach to disaster mitigation, focusing on both human safety and the protection of critical infrastructure. Beyond the mass evacuations, officials have ordered vessels back to port and conducted rigorous inspections of reservoirs, construction sites, and tourist destinations. Landmarks such as Shanghai’s Bund and major attractions like Disneyland and Legoland were closed to the public to minimize risk.
The logistical response has been equally robust, with cities like Hangzhou waiving parking fees to encourage residents to move vehicles from flood-prone areas to higher ground. The systematic clearing of ships from ports like Yangshan demonstrates the high level of coordination required to manage a storm of this magnitude. While the immediate danger posed emains on the long-term threat of secondary disasters, such as riverine flooding and ground instability, as the region recovers from the deluge.