China Evacuates More Than One Million as Powerful Typhoon Dolphin Hits East Coast

More than one million people have been evacuated from their homes in eastern China as Typhoon Dolphin brought powerful winds, torrential rain and widespread disruption across the region.

The typhoon made landfall in Zhejiang province on Sunday evening, with maximum sustained winds of about 150km/h (94mph). It first struck near Yuhuan at around 17:30 local time before making a second landfall approximately an hour later near the city of Wenzhou, according to Chinese meteorological authorities.

Authorities had earlier issued the country’s highest-level red alert as the storm approached, warning residents to take precautions against dangerous winds, flooding and landslides. By Monday morning, however, Dolphin had weakened and was downgraded to a tropical storm as it moved further inland.

Despite losing strength, the storm continued to pose a major threat because of the heavy rainfall accompanying it. Forecasters warned that severe rain could continue through Wednesday, with parts of Zhejiang expected to receive between 250mm and 500mm of rainfall. Heavy rain was also forecast across Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, as well as Shanghai.

The storm caused major disruption to transport networks. Around 1,400 flights were cancelled in Shanghai alone, while other transport services across the affected region were also suspended or disrupted as authorities attempted to protect residents from dangerous conditions.

Shanghai experienced significant flooding in several areas, with footage from state media showing flooded ground-floor businesses in the city’s historic former French Concession. Residents were seen walking through ankle-deep water as heavy rain overwhelmed parts of the city.

Authorities also closed several tourist attractions as a precaution, including parts of Disneyland and Legoland, along with viewing platforms along Shanghai’s famous Bund waterfront.

Chinese officials have not reported any deaths, although state media said a nine-year-old boy from Wenling in Zhejiang was missing after reportedly being swept into the sea.

Local governments have urged residents to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary travel. In Hangzhou, authorities temporarily waived parking fees in public spaces to allow drivers to seek shelter during the storm.

Emergency teams remain on alert as Dolphin moves inland, with officials warning that flooding and landslides could remain serious threats in several provinces over the coming days.