Typhoon Dolphin forces Shanghai evacuation of over 215,000

Typhoon Dolphin has weakened after making two landfalls in China's eastern Zhejiang province. Despite the reduced intensity, the city of Shanghai continues to enforce transport restrictions, having preemptively evacuated 215,600 people from areas prone to high winds and heavy rain.

About 12 hours after its initial landfall in Yuhuan city, the National Meteorological Center downgraded its typhoon alert. However, a orange alert for rain, the second most severe, remains in effect, with forecasts predicting strong to torrential downpours of up to 250 to 320 millimeters in some regions across central and eastern China.

In Shanghai, widespread rain was recorded overnight, prompting several districts to activate orange alerts. Consequently, four metro lines experienced suspensions, and all passenger water transport, including urban ferries and tourist services, was halted. Prior to reaching Zhejiang, Dolphin had crossed Japan's southern Ryukyu Islands on Friday, causing at least three minor injuries, power outages for thousands of homes, and hundreds of flight cancellations.

Chinese authorities had issued a red alert in anticipation of the typhoon's arrival.