Typhoon Dolphin hits China, 420,000 evacuated

Typhoon Dolphin made landfall on China’s eastern coast on Sunday evening, prompting large-scale evacuations and major transport disruptions across Zhejiang, Fujian, and Shanghai, according to officials and forecasters.

Authorities said more than 420,000 residents were moved away from areas considered at risk as emergency teams prepared for heavy rain and runoff. Officials reported the storm came ashore in Taizhou with sustained winds of 151 km/h, leading to top-level emergency alerts in parts of the region.

Evacuations and transport curbs across Zhejiang, Fujian, and Shanghai Officials said response measures centered on reducing exposure in low-lying districts and locations vulnerable to landslides as the system pushed inland. Local governments opened temporary shelters to house those displaced, while emergency crews worked to keep essential services running as conditions shifted.

Transport restrictions expanded quickly as safety measures took hold in affected provinces and major urban hubs. Officials said ferry services were suspended, cutting maritime links along sections of the coast at a time when people were being relocated to safer areas.

Flight cancellations at Hongqiao and Pudong

Air travel in Shanghai also faced significant reductions. Authorities said airlines cancelled about 60% of scheduled flights at Shanghai’s Hongqiao and Pudong airports, creating near-term constraints for passengers and for logistics moving through the city’s transport network.

Rainfall becomes the main hazard after landfall

Forecasters warned that the storm’s effects were expected to continue beyond the initial landfall, with heavy rainfall posing the primary threat. In Zhejiang, forecasters cited expected totals of 200–400 mm over the coming days as a key risk factor.

Officials and forecasters said rainfall of that scale can increase the likelihood of flash flooding and landslides, particularly in steep terrain and areas where the ground is already saturated. Emergency management teams remained mobilized, with priorities including monitoring waterways, slope stability, and critical transport corridors.

Earlier impacts in Taiwan and the Philippines

Before reaching China, the same system affected northern Taiwan, according to reports referenced by forecasters. It also reinforced seasonal monsoon rains in the Philippines, extending impacts beyond a single jurisdiction.

In Baguio, officials said landslides linked to intensified rains left seven people missing, and responders continued search and emergency operations. Officials in China described the situation around Typhoon Dolphin as fluid, saying the timing of returns for evacuees would depend on rainfall, local damage checks, and the restoration of transport services as the storm tracks further inland.