China Evacuates Over One Million People as Typhoon Dolphin Hits Eastern Coast

Chinese officials launched massive emergency operations as Typhoon Dolphin made landfall in eastern China, forcing sweeping evacuations across multiple provinces and heavily disrupting the financial capital of Shanghai. Meteorological authorities tracked the storm as it first slammed into Yuhuan in Zhejiang province at 17:30 local time on Sunday before striking the city of Wenzhou about an hour later.

Evacuations and Shelter Operations Across Zhejiang and Shanghai

Local governments mobilized emergency resources across the affected coastal corridor. In Wenzhou alone, authorities relocated some 900,000 residents and opened more than 1,000 emergency shelters to house displaced families. Another 390,000 people were evacuated from their homes in the city of Taizhou.

Cities adapted municipal rules to protect residents from the elements. Authorities in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province, waived parking fees in all public spaces for drivers seeking shelter from the severe winds and rising floodwaters.

Transport Halts and Infrastructure Closures as Winds Peak

The storm brought immediate paralysis to regional transit networks. Nearly 1,000 flights were cancelled in Shanghai alone on Monday as the storm’s impact widened.

Maritime authorities in the neighboring coastal province of Fujian suspended dozens of passenger ferry routes and halted more than 100 offshore construction projects. Governments urged residents to avoid all outdoor activities while high-profile tourist destinations remained locked down, including sections of Disneyland, Legoland, and multiple viewing platforms along the Bund in Shanghai.

Rainfall Projections and Storm Characteristics Analyzed by Forecasters

State broadcaster CCTV reported that Typhoon Dolphin traveled an extraordinary distance of 6,000 kilometers before making landfall, granting it a lifespan more than three times that of an average typhoon. The system also carried a massive circulation size and intense rainfall capacity.

Forecasters warned that parts of Zhejiang could receive between 250mm and 500mm of rain over the span of a few days. Floodwaters surged into ground-floor businesses in Shanghai’s popular former French Concession area, where footage broadcast on state media showed individuals wading through ankle-deep water.

Ongoing Warnings and Search Efforts

While Chinese authorities downgraded Dolphin from a typhoon to a tropical storm, they maintained warnings for torrential rains, severe flooding, and the continued risk of landslides through Wednesday as the system tracks northward.

Several state media outlets reported that a nine-year-old boy from Wenling, Zhejiang, was missing after being swept into the sea, though officials had not reported any broader casualties.