Powerful Typhoon Dolphin Hits China, More Than 1 Million Evacuated

Darwin, August :

More than 1 million people have been evacuated to safer locations after powerful Typhoon Dolphin struck eastern China, including residents of Shanghai, according to the BBC.

The typhoon made landfall in Yuhuan, Zhejiang Province, on Sunday (August 9) evening, with maximum wind speeds of 150 kilometers per hour. About an hour later, the storm also hit areas near the city of Wenzhou.

The typhoon has severely disrupted transportation across eastern China. In Shanghai alone, around 1,400 flights were canceled.

Chinese authorities had earlier issued the highest-level red alert due to the storm. However, by Monday (August 10) morning, the typhoon had weakened into a tropical storm.

The storm is still moving inland, however. Heavy rainfall, severe flooding, and landslides are expected in various areas through Wednesday.

Heavy rain has been forecast for Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang provinces, as well as Shanghai, on Monday.

To avoid risks, local authorities have advised people to stay indoors. Several popular tourist attractions have also been closed. Parts of Shanghai Disneyland and LEGOLAND, along with several observation platforms in the Bund area, remain closed.

China’s National Meteorological Center (NMC) issued the country’s highest-level weather warning, a red alert, because of Typhoon Dolphin. In a warning issued Sunday morning, the NMC said extremely heavy rainfall could occur in parts of central and eastern Zhejiang Province. Heavy rain was also forecast for Shanghai and parts of Fujian, Anhui, and Jiangsu provinces through Monday afternoon.

Weather authorities said Typhoon Dolphin would gradually weaken after moving northwestward and making landfall in eastern China. More than 200 ferries in Zhejiang and Fujian provinces have been suspended because of the storm.

Work on various offshore projects has also been suspended, while 474 construction vessels have been moved back to safe ports. Some train services in affected areas have also been suspended for passenger safety.

Meanwhile, as of Sunday afternoon, 5,290 households on Japan’s Okinawa Island were without electricity. Thousands of flights were canceled in Japan, China, and Taiwan due to the storm.

Just two weeks before Typhoon Dolphin struck China, Typhoon Noul hit the southern province of Guangdong. It was described at the time as the strongest storm to hit China this year. Before reaching China, Typhoon Noul killed three people in the Philippines and damaged hundreds of homes.