A massive natural disaster has paralyzed daily life and transportation infrastructure across Eastern Asia. Typhoon Dolphin made landfall along the eastern coastline of China, prompting severe disaster warnings and widespread emergency protocols. Ahead of the storm's arrival, authorities evacuated roughly one million residents from high-risk coastal zones, while more than 1,000 flights were grounded alongside extensive suspensions of ferry and railway services.
Landfall in Zhejiang and Storm Impact
According to official meteorological data, Typhoon Dolphin made landfall near Yuhuan city in Zhejiang province on Sunday at approximately 5:30 PM. At the time of impact, sustained wind speeds near the eye of the storm exceeded 150 kilometers per hour, driving torrential rainfall and violent gusts across coastal communities.
Meteorologists have warned of extreme rainfall levels across central and eastern Zhejiang, with cumulative precipitation expected to reach between 250 mm and 500 mm in the hardest-hit regions. Demonstrating the magnitude of the evacuation effort, nearly 900,000 people were moved to safety from Wenzhou city alone, where over 1,000 emergency shelters were opened to house displaced residents.
Air, Rail, and Maritime Disruption
The arrival of Typhoon Dolphin severely crippled regional transport networks. Around 1,400 incoming and outgoing flights were canceled across Shanghai's two primary international airports. Furthermore, Hangzhou airport in Zhejiang reported the cancellation of approximately 270 flights. Passenger train operations across multiple affected districts were also halted as a precautionary measure.
Maritime transportation faced similar shutdowns, with over 200 ferry routes suspended across Zhejiang and Fujian provinces. Offshore engineering and marine construction activities were entirely halted, prompting hundreds of construction vessels to return to harbour. In Fujian province, authorities successfully evacuated around 99,000 residents from vulnerable spots.
Red Alert Issued as Storm Spreads Regionally
China's National Meteorological Center issued a Red Alert on Sunday morning, marking the highest and most severe tier in the national weather warning system. Torrential rain warnings cover Zhejiang alongside parts of Shanghai, Fujian, Anhui, and Jiangsu, with heavy downpours predicted to continue through Monday afternoon.
Prior to reaching mainland China, Typhoon Dolphin battered Japan's Okinawa prefecture with fierce winds and downpours. Local authorities in Okinawa reported seven minor injuries, including a resident aged over 100 who sustained a head injury after being knocked over by a gust of wind. By Sunday afternoon, power outages affected 5,290 households across Okinawa. Meanwhile, Taiwan experienced significant travel chaos, with dozens of ferry crossings suspended and over 180 flights grounded.
Record Heat in Hong Kong and Recent Typhoon Context
The reach of Typhoon Dolphin extended as far as Hong Kong, where outer weather dynamics pushed hot air into the region, causing temperatures to surge to a record high of 36.9°C. Forecasts indicate that intense thermal conditions could persist through Tuesday as the storm system advances.
This environmental emergency follows closely on the heels of Typhoon Noul, which devastated southern Guangdong province just two weeks prior. Typhoon Noul had been categorized as the strongest storm to strike China earlier this year, having previously impacted the Philippines where it claimed three lives and damaged hundreds of homes.
