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A powerful typhoon has forced the evacuation of more than one million people across eastern China, including residents of Shanghai, as severe weather disrupted daily life and transport networks.
Typhoon Dolphin made landfall on Sunday evening in Yuhuan, Zhejiang province, packing winds of up to 150 km/h. Within an hour, it struck near Wenzhou city, intensifying concerns over widespread damage.
The storm caused major disruptions across the region. In Shanghai alone, around 1,400 flights were cancelled, while ferry services and train operations were partially suspended in affected areas.
Authorities had issued the highest-level red alert ahead of the storm. Although Dolphin weakened into a tropical storm by Monday morning, it continues to move inland, raising fears of heavy rainfall, severe flooding, and landslides through midweek.
Weather officials have forecast intense rain in several provinces, including Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang, as well as Shanghai. Residents have been urged to stay indoors, while popular tourist attractions and public spaces—such as parts of Shanghai Disneyland and the Bund—have been temporarily closed.
More than 200 ferry routes in Zhejiang and Fujian were suspended, and 474 construction vessels were recalled to safe harbours. Offshore operations were halted, and precautionary measures were taken across multiple sectors.
The storm also affected neighboring regions. In Japan’s Okinawa, over 5,000 households lost power, while thousands of flights were cancelled across China, Japan, and Taiwan.
Typhoon Dolphin struck just two weeks after Typhoon Noul hit southern China, highlighting a particularly intense storm season.
Authorities say Dolphin is expected to gradually weaken as it moves further inland, but risks remain high in the coming days.