Typhoon Dolphin hits China’s east coast, over 1 million evacuated

Typhoon Dolphin, the most powerful tropical cyclone to hit China this year, made landfall in eastern Zhejiang province on Sunday, unleashing torrential rain and fierce winds. The storm, packing maximum sustained winds of 151 km/h, prompted widespread evacuations and transport disruptions.

Authorities had taken extensive precautions, moving offshore workers to safety, ordering vessels back to port, and increasing checks at reservoirs and other vulnerable sites. Over 1 million people were evacuated from their homes. Shanghai alone saw about 1,500 flights cancelled, stranding tourists like Chen from Guangdong, who described the typhoon as an ordinary part of life for those on China's southern coast.

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To us Guangdong people, this typhoon is as ordinary as having a meal and feeling the wind. It’s just part of everyday life.

In neighboring Zhejiang province, the city of Wenzhou relocated over 900,000 residents. Fujian province evacuated 98,900 people. Both provinces, along with Shanghai and Jiangsu, activated Level III emergency responses. The storm's path inland is expected to prolong heavy rainfall, raising concerns about flooding and landslides, especially in mountainous regions and along smaller rivers.

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That could prolong heavy rain and raise the risk of flooding and landslides, especially in mountainous areas and along smaller rivers.