Typhoon Dolphin: China evacuates more than 1 million people as massive storm arrives

Mass Evacuations and Emergency Response

Authorities implemented large-scale relocations to protect residents from potential flooding and landslides. In the coastal city of Wenzhou, more than 900,000 people were relocated, and more than 1,500 emergency shelters were opened. In the Zhejiang city of Taizhou, approximately 390,000 people were evacuated by Saturday evening.

Evacuations extended into neighboring regions. In Fujian province, 98,900 people were moved from high-risk areas after authorities raised the typhoon emergency response to Level III. In Shanghai, the number of people moved from at-risk areas reached 215,600 by Sunday evening, a significant increase from an earlier figure of 30,300.

To mitigate damage, Fujian maritime authorities halted 115 offshore construction projects and suspended 55 coastal passenger ferry routes. Shanghai’s Yangshan port cleared its berths and moved more than 500 small and medium-sized vessels to shelter. In Hangzhou, officials closed sightseeing boats and docks at West Lake and waived public parking charges to allow drivers to move vehicles away from floodwaters.

Record Rainfall and Infrastructure Disruption

The storm caused severe disruption to transportation and recorded historic precipitation levels. Shanghai’s two airports cancelled more than 1,300 flights, while Hangzhou saw 270 cancellations. Public transport, including many local trains, was suspended in Shanghai. While Ningbo international airport announced it would resume operations from midday Monday, it warned of possible further delays.

Rainfall reached extreme levels in the financial hub; one weather station in central Shanghai recorded nearly 313mm of rain in the 24 hours ending 7 a.m. Monday, the highest 24-hour total in more than 150 years of records. Another city station recorded nearly 400mm. In Zhejiang, the average rainfall from Friday evening to Monday morning was 173mm, surpassing levels seen during previous major typhoons such as Bavi and Lekima.

Typhoon Dolphin Barrels Into China, Prompting Mass Evacuations

Authorities maintained an orange alert for heavy rain, with forecasters predicting some areas could see 200-400mm of rainfall in the coming days. The Ministry of Water Resources warned of major flooding risks for the Shuiyang, Jiao, Yong, and Qiantang rivers.

Regional Impact and Casualties

While Chinese officials reported no casualties, state media outlets noted that a nine-year-old boy from Wenling in Zhejiang is missing after being swept into the sea. In other regions, the storm’s effects were varied:

• Japan: The storm swept through the southern Okinawa prefecture, cutting power to more than 50,000 buildings and injuring between six and seven people.
• Philippines: Dolphin intensified seasonal monsoon rains, flooding the main northern Luzon region and metropolitan Manila. In the mountain resort city of Baguio, a landslide struck three houses on Sunday, leaving seven people missing and five rescued. More than 12,000 people were displaced.
• Taiwan: More than 180 flights were cancelled and ferry services were suspended amid strong winds and downpours.
• Hong Kong: The storm fueled intense heat, with one station at Sheung Shui reaching 39.8C and the city recording its highest ever temperature of 36.9C on Sunday.

Storm Characteristics and Aftermath

State broadcaster CCTV reported that Dolphin traveled approximately 6,000km before reaching China, resulting in a lifespan more than three times that of an average typhoon. By 5 a.m. Monday, the system had weakened to a tropical storm as it moved north into central and eastern China, affecting provinces including Hubei, Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang.

In the wake of the storm, authorities detained two individuals for spreading misinformation. A 60-year-old man was accused of using AI to fabricate a video of someone falling from a building in Shanghai, and a 32-year-old was accused of misleadingly re-editing footage. Scientists noted that global warming has made extreme heat and more powerful typhoons more likely.