Landfall and Immediate Impact
Typhoon Dolphin, the most powerful tropical cyclone to hit China this year, made landfall on the country's eastern coast on Sunday evening. The storm first slammed into Yuhuan in Zhejiang province at 17:30 local time, packing maximum wind speeds of 150 km/h, before making a second landfall in Wenzhou about an hour later. Authorities had earlier issued their highest-level red alert, but by Monday morning it was downgraded to a tropical storm.[S1][S2]
The typhoon has already swept through Japan's southern Okinawa prefecture, injuring six people and cutting power to more than 50,000 buildings. In the Philippines, eight people have died due to heavy monsoon rains brought on by Dolphin and earlier storms, with more than 7,000 people sheltering at evacuation centres nationwide.[S2][S1]
Evacuations and Transport Disruption
More than a million people have been evacuated from their homes across eastern China, including in Shanghai, where at least 30,300 people were moved to safety. The storm halted transportation across the region, with about 1,500 flights cancelled in Shanghai alone, according to flight-tracking data provider VariFlight. In Wenzhou, authorities relocated more than 900,000 residents and opened over 1,000 emergency shelters, while about 390,000 people were evacuated in Taizhou.[S1][S2]
In Fujian province, maritime authorities suspended 55 coastal passenger ferry routes, halted all 115 offshore construction projects, and moved 290 construction vessels to sheltered waters. The storm's impact also led to the closure of several tourist attractions, including parts of Disneyland and Legoland, and viewing platforms along the Bund in Shanghai.[S2][S1]
Rainfall and Flood Risk
Torrential rain is forecast through Wednesday across Zhejiang, Shanghai, northern Fujian, northeastern Jiangxi, central and southern Anhui, and much of Jiangsu. Parts of central and eastern Zhejiang could receive 250-500 mm of rain, according to forecasters. After landfall, Dolphin is forecast to track westward before slowing over central and southwestern China and gradually losing strength, which could prolong heavy rain and raise the risk of flooding and landslides, especially in mountainous areas and along smaller rivers.[S1][S2]
Misinformation and Regional Effects
State media reported that two people have been detained for spreading misinformation about the storm. One, a 60-year-old man, created a fake AI video claiming someone in Shanghai had fallen from a building during the storm; another, 32, re-edited storm footage in a misleading way. In Hong Kong, the weather observatory recorded a record high temperature of 36.9°C on Sunday as the typhoon swept warm air over the city.[S1]
