Overview
- Dolphin struck the Zhejiang–Fujian coast on Sunday as China’s National Meteorological Centre issued a red typhoon alert, its highest level, and officials reported mass relocations from coastal and low-lying areas.
- Authorities ordered large-scale evacuations and safety measures that moved hundreds of thousands of people and pulled offshore workers, vessels and construction ships back to port.
- Air travel and transport were hit hard with Shanghai’s two airports grounding about 1,300–1,384 flights and regional hubs including Hangzhou cancelling roughly 270 flights, while rail sections and more than 200 ferry routes were suspended.
- Forecasters said Dolphin brought sustained winds near 162 km/h and could drop 250–500 mm of rain in parts of Zhejiang, raising immediate risks of river flooding, urban waterlogging and landslides as the system slows inland.
- Officials warned the storm could prolong damage because recent storms have saturated soils and rivers, and they mobilised reservoir checks and emergency teams while international carriers such as Emirates and Singapore Airlines adjusted schedules for Shanghai and Hangzhou.