Typhoon Dolphin causes severe flooding in Shanghai, grounds hundreds of flights across east China

Typhoon Dolphin unleashed torrential rain and storms across eastern China, inundating several provinces and causing severe flooding in Shanghai. The storm's impact led to the grounding of nearly 40% of flights at the city's two airports, with hundreds of services canceled on Monday. Many streets in Shanghai, China's second-most populous city, were submerged, including in key commercial areas.

Residents described unprecedented inconvenience. "I've lived in Shanghai for 10 years, and this is the first time I've experienced such inconvenience from a typhoon. This is the first time I've encountered such widespread flooding," said Hou Lina, a sales worker in Shanghai's Jiading district. Live streams from social media showed people wading through knee-high murky water in suburban districts.

The typhoon, packing maximum sustained winds of 151 km/h near its center upon landfall in Zhejiang province, weakened to a tropical storm but continued to drench eastern provinces including Anhui, Jiangsu, and Shandong. In Shanghai's Jinshan district, non-essential businesses and organizations were allowed to halt operations due to forecasts of continued strong winds and heavy rain.

Authorities in Beijing issued warnings for torrential rain, anticipating significant rainfall from Tuesday to Thursday. The capital is preparing to activate its flood control response, with concerns about flash floods and landslides in surrounding mountainous areas. The typhoon had already traveled a considerable distance before making landfall, indicating a prolonged life cycle.

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I've lived in Shanghai for 10 years, and this is the first time I've experienced such inconvenience from a typhoon. This is the first time I've encountered such widespread flooding.