Typhoon Dolphin Forces Mass Evacuations Across China
Typhoon Dolphin has battered China's eastern coast with hurricane-force winds and intense rainfall, triggering mass evacuations and major transport disruptions.
Typhoon Dolphin has emerged as the most powerful tropical cyclone to strike China this year, hitting the country's eastern coastline and forcing authorities to move more than one million people away from vulnerable areas. The storm made two landfalls in Zhejiang Province, bringing powerful winds and torrential rain to coastal communities.
Dolphin first struck Yuhuan City with sustained winds reaching 151 km/h (94 mph), before making a second landfall near Wenzhou. The combination of strong winds and intense rainfall has caused widespread flooding in urban areas, while authorities have continued to warn residents about the dangers posed by flash floods and landslides.
The system has weakened to a tropical storm as it moves farther inland. However, the reduction in wind strength has not eliminated the wider threat, with heavy rainfall expected to continue affecting several central and northern parts of the country.
Mass Evacuations Across Coastal Regions
Authorities across several provinces moved large numbers of residents into safer locations before and during the storm. Wenzhou in Zhejiang Province reported more than 900,000 people relocated to emergency shelters, with 1,500 shelters opened to accommodate those displaced by the storm.
Taizhou, also in Zhejiang, evacuated around 390,000 residents ahead of Dolphin's arrival. The preventive measures were designed to move people away from areas exposed to strong winds, flooding and other hazards associated with the approaching cyclone.
Shanghai also undertook a major evacuation operation, with 215,600 people moved from low-lying coastal areas. In Fujian Province, approximately 98,900 people were relocated under a Level III emergency response.
- Wenzhou: More than 900,000 people relocated and 1,500 emergency shelters opened.
- Taizhou: Around 390,000 residents evacuated before landfall.
- Shanghai: 215,600 people moved from low-lying coastal areas.
- Fujian: Approximately 98,900 residents relocated under a Level III emergency response.
The evacuation figures supplied from different regions reflect the scale of the preparedness operation surrounding Dolphin. Authorities have continued to prioritize moving residents away from locations considered particularly exposed to the storm's effects.
Flights, Ferries and Ports Disrupted
Dolphin has also caused significant disruption to China's transportation network. More than 1,400 flights were grounded at Shanghai's two main airports, while Hangzhou recorded another 270 cancellations as authorities responded to the deteriorating weather.
Maritime activity was similarly restricted. Yangshan Port in Shanghai cleared its active berths and directed more than 500 vessels toward sheltered waters as the storm approached.
Passenger ferry operations were also affected, with authorities suspending 55 ferry routes. In addition, 115 offshore construction projects were halted as a precaution during the severe weather.
Some local governments introduced additional measures to help residents prepare. In Hangzhou, public parking fees were waived, allowing people to leave vehicles and move toward safer or elevated locations without the additional parking cost.
Record Rainfall Adds to Flood Risk
Heavy rainfall has become one of the major concerns as Dolphin moves inland. Several weather stations in Suzhou, Wuxi and Kunshan have reportedly recorded their highest single-day rainfall totals on record, adding to concerns about flooding in already affected areas.
The intense downpours have inundated urban centers, producing scenes of extensive surface flooding. Social media descriptions comparing parts of the region to a sea have highlighted the scale of the water accumulation, although such descriptions are not official measurements of flooding.
China's National Meteorological Center has maintained warnings for flash floods and landslides as the weakened storm continues its inland journey. The continuing rainfall means that risks can remain significant even after the system loses its strongest tropical-cyclone winds.
Dolphin Heads Toward Central China
After crossing the eastern coast, Dolphin is moving northwest toward Anhui, Jiangsu, Hubei and Henan provinces. The storm's changing strength and position are being closely monitored as the system progresses farther inland.
Authorities are particularly concerned about the possibility of flooding and landslides along the storm's projected path. The combination of saturated ground and continuing heavy rainfall can create additional hazards in areas already experiencing significant precipitation.
The threat is not limited to the immediate coastal landfall zones. The storm's inland movement means communities farther from Zhejiang must also remain alert to weather warnings as Dolphin's rain-bearing system advances.
Beijing Issues Alerts as Storm Moves Inland
Beijing has issued high-level warnings for torrential rainfall and mountain landslides, with the alerts expected to remain in effect from Tuesday through Thursday. The warnings underline the broader geographic reach of the weather system after its initial impact along the eastern coast.
The possibility of heavy rainfall and landslides means authorities in affected inland areas are facing a different set of challenges from those encountered along the coast. While coastal communities dealt with strong winds, storm conditions inland are increasingly centered on rainfall, flooding and unstable terrain.
The progression of Dolphin demonstrates why emergency preparations continue even after a tropical cyclone weakens. A decline from typhoon strength to tropical-storm status does not automatically remove the threat when large amounts of moisture continue moving across populated regions.
China Faces a Prolonged Weather Emergency
The storm has already affected residents, transport networks, ports and construction activity across eastern China. The evacuation of more than one million people, the closure of transport routes and the movement of hundreds of vessels into sheltered waters demonstrate the extensive preparations undertaken ahead of Dolphin.
The immediate coastal impact is now giving way to a broader inland weather threat. Heavy rainfall records in parts of Jiangsu and nearby areas, combined with warnings for flash floods and landslides, have shifted attention toward the storm's next phase.
Authorities will continue to monitor the system as it moves through central provinces and toward areas farther north. For communities along its path, the focus remains on rainfall, flooding, landslide risks and timely emergency measures.
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