Typhoon Dolphin Approaches China's East Coast, Triggering Flood Warnings

Typhoon Dolphin is poised to strike China's east coast overnight Sunday, carrying with it torrential downpours and powerful gusts. Chinese authorities are on high alert, bracing for widespread flooding and landslides across a significant portion of the eastern region. The storm has already made its presence felt in Japan's southern Okinawa prefecture, where it left six people injured and caused power outages affecting more than 50,000 homes and businesses. As Dolphin approaches China, officials have taken precautionary measures, including relocating offshore workers to safety, ordering vessels back to port, and intensifying checks on reservoirs, mountain streams, and vulnerable construction sites. Forecasters predict Dolphin will make landfall on Sunday evening into Monday with sustained winds reaching up to 162 kilometers per hour, equivalent to a Category Two hurricane. The National Meteorological Centre anticipates the storm will weaken as it moves inland but warns that prolonged heavy rainfall could elevate the risk of flooding and landslides, particularly in mountainous areas and along smaller rivers. The water resources ministry has identified several rivers, including the Qiantang, Yong, Jiao, and Shuiyang, as potential sites for major flooding. In response to the impending threat, China has activated its emergency response system. A Level III flood emergency response is in effect for Zhejiang and Fujian provinces, with a Level IV response for Jiangsu and Anhui. The emergency management ministry has dispatched teams to Zhejiang and Fujian. Additionally, the natural resources ministry has issued a Level III geological-disaster response for Zhejiang and a Level IV for Anhui, highlighting the risk of landslides and other hazards. Residents in areas under red mountain-torrent warnings have been advised to comply with local evacuation orders. Shanghai's Yangshan port has taken steps to secure vessels, moving over 500 small and medium-sized boats to shelter.

“

The storm is expected to hit the coast on Sunday evening and into Monday with sustained winds of up to 162 km per hour before weakening and moving inland.