Typhoon Dolphin strikes China as strongest storm of year

Typhoon Dolphin, the most powerful tropical cyclone to strike China this year, made landfall on the country's east coast on Sunday, lashing Zhejiang province with roaring winds and torrential rain. The storm arrived near the city of Yuhuan at approximately 5:30 p.m. local time, packing maximum sustained winds of 151 kilometers per hour (94 mph), equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane. Before reaching the Chinese mainland, it swept through Japan's southern Okinawa prefecture, leaving six people injured and more than 50,000 homes without power.

Widespread evacuations and transport chaos

Emergency crews mounted a massive response as the storm closed in. Shanghai evacuated over 30,000 people and canceled nearly 1,500 flights, while regional authorities moved offshore workers to safety and ordered vessels back to port. Across the eastern seaboard, more than a million people were relocated from vulnerable coastal communities. In Wenzhou, a city of millions in Zhejiang, over 900,000 residents were moved into more than 1,000 emergency shelters. Fujian province evacuated 98,900 people from high-risk zones and suspended 55 coastal ferry routes, halted all 115 offshore construction projects, and sheltered 290 construction vessels.

Heavy rain and landslide warnings

The danger is far from over. Forecasters predict torrential rain will continue Monday across Zhejiang, Shanghai, northern Fujian, northeastern Jiangxi, central and southern Anhui, and much of Jiangsu. In central and eastern Zhejiang, cumulative rainfall could reach 250 to 500 millimeters (10 to 20 inches), potentially triggering devastating floods and landslides. The National Meteorological Center's chief forecaster, Wang Haiping, told state broadcaster CCTV that Dolphin is expected to move westward before slowing over central and southwestern China, which could prolong heavy rain and raise the risk of flash floods and geological disasters, especially in mountainous areas and along smaller rivers. The water resources ministry warned that the Qiantang, Yong, Jiao, and Shuiyang rivers could experience major flooding, while smaller waterways in the hardest-hit areas might exceed warning levels.

'Part of everyday life': voices from the storm

For many residents, the typhoon is a familiar and unwelcome part of life. A 42-year-old tourist from Guangdong, surnamed Chen, found himself stranded in Shanghai after his family's flight on Sunday was canceled. They were rebooked for Monday evening, but Chen remained skeptical. "To us Guangdong people, this typhoon is as ordinary as having a meal and feeling the wind," he said, noting that the storm didn't seem especially intense by the standards of China's southern coast. His comments highlight how communities along the typhoon belt have learned to live with these powerful systems, even as they disrupt daily routines and force mass evacuations.

Authorities on high alert

The local government in Wenzhou opened more than 1,000 emergency shelters to accommodate the displaced. Authorities also increased inspections of reservoirs, mountain streams, landslide-prone areas, construction sites, and tourist attractions. A red mountain-torrent warning was issued for parts of Zhejiang, with officials ordering residents in affected areas to follow evacuation orders without delay. Shanghai's Yangshan port, a key shipping hub, moved all vessels from its berths as a precaution.

As Dolphin loses strength over the coming days, the focus will shift from wind damage to water damage. The slow-moving storm could dump excessive rain on inland provinces, elevating the risk of widespread flooding and mudslides. Recovery efforts are already underway along the coast, but the full impact of the storm may not be known until the waters recede.