Over a million evacuated, 1,500 flights canceled: Typhoon Dolphin hits China

Typhoon Dolphin, the strongest tropical storm to hit China this year, made landfall on the eastern coast yesterday with winds of 151 km/h and heavy rains. Authorities evacuated more than a million people, including 30,300 in Shanghai, and canceled about 1,500 flights. Ports were shut down and ferry services suspended. Authorities warn of flooding and landslides, especially in mountainous areas.

Typhoon Dolphin, described as the strongest tropical storm to hit China this year, made landfall on the country's eastern coast yesterday (Sunday) with winds of up to 151 km/h and heavy rains. Authorities issued warnings of flooding and landslides and ordered the evacuation of more than a million people, according to Reuters news agency. The typhoon came ashore near the city of Yuhuan in Zhejiang province at around 17:30 local time, according to China's meteorological authorities. At landfall, winds were measured at up to 42 meters per second, equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Authorities evacuated workers from offshore platforms, ordered vessels back to port, and stepped up inspections in landslide-prone areas. In Shanghai alone, at least 30,300 people were evacuated and about 1,500 flights were canceled, according to VariFlight. In Zhejiang province, the city of Wenzhou evacuated more than 900,000 residents and opened more than 1,000 emergency shelters. Chief forecaster Wang Haiping told CCTV that the storm's slow movement could prolong heavy rains and increase the risk of flooding and landslides. The Ministry of Water Resources warned that the Qiantang, Yong, Jiao, and Shuoyang rivers could rise significantly. At Shanghai's Yangshan Port, more than 500 vessels were moved to shelter.