Typhoon 'Dolphin,' the 13th typhoon of the season, made landfall on the eastern coast of China, bringing record rainfall and strong winds to Zhejiang Province, Fujian Province, and the Shanghai area.
According to reports from The Guardian and others, Dolphin made landfall at the coast of Taizhou in Zhejiang Province at around 5:30 PM on August 9, before making a second landfall at the coast of Lucheng about 30 minutes later. At its peak, the typhoon's maximum wind speed near its center reached 42 meters per second, or approximately 151 kilometers per hour.
In Zhejiang, strong winds knocked down trees and bicycles, making it difficult for residents to maintain their footing. In Shanghai, heavy rain began early on August 9, flooding over 100 roads and underpasses. Some areas recorded more than 200 millimeters of rainfall in a single day.
In anticipation of the typhoon, large-scale evacuations took place. It is estimated that over 1 million people left their homes in eastern China. In Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, more than 900,000 residents were evacuated, and over 1,000 emergency shelters were opened. In Fujian Province, nearly 99,000 residents from high-risk areas were also evacuated.
Air travel and shipping faced significant disruptions. According to VariFlight, a Chinese aviation data provider, approximately 1,500 flights were canceled in Shanghai due to the typhoon. Hangzhou Airport saw around 300 flight cancellations, while operations at Ningbo, Taizhou, Lishui, and Zhoushan airports were completely halted.
Major ports also suspended or reduced operations. At Shanghai Yangshan Port, vessels were moved from the docks, and over 500 small and medium-sized ships were evacuated. In Fujian Province, operations on 55 coastal passenger ferry routes were suspended, and 115 maritime construction projects were halted.
Chinese authorities have intensified inspections of reservoirs, mountain rivers, and landslide-prone areas, while closing tourist facilities and implementing school closures, business suspensions, and traffic control measures in some regions.
As Dolphin moves inland, it is expected to weaken gradually, but its slow speed may result in continued heavy rainfall across eastern China until August 12. Some areas in central and eastern Zhejiang Province are forecasted to receive between 250 and 500 millimeters of rain, raising concerns about potential flooding and landslides.
Dolphin has also affected regions outside of China, including Okinawa, Japan, and Taiwan. In Okinawa, six people were injured, and power was cut to over 50,000 buildings, while Taiwan reported 632 incidents of damage and six injuries.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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