Typhoon Dolphin makes landfall in China after flight cancellations, evacuations

Typhoon Dolphin made landfall in densely populated eastern China on Sunday, meteorological authorities said, after the storm triggered more than 1,000 flight cancellations, evacuations and a top-level alert. China's east coast had been preparing for the storm's arrival for days, with work and transport services suspended in some areas along its predicted path.

Where did Typhoon Dolphin make landfall in China?

Typhoon Dolphin's centre moved over the coastline near Yuhuan City in Zhejiang Province at around 5:30 pm local time, China's National Meteorological Centre said. Maximum wind speeds near the centre exceeded 150 kilometres per hour at landfall. The storm is expected to weaken as it moves northwest across eastern China.

Nearly 1,400 flights in and out of Shanghai's two main passenger airports were cancelled on Sunday, state broadcaster CCTV reported. Hangzhou's airport in nearby Zhejiang province saw 270 inbound and outbound flights cancelled. The storm's effects reached as far as Hong Kong, where the weather observatory recorded a high of 36.9C, caused by warm air pushed over the city by Typhoon Dolphin.

What alerts and evacuations has Typhoon Dolphin triggered?

China's National Meteorological Centre issued a red typhoon alert, its most severe warning, on Sunday morning, forecasting extraordinary torrential rain in parts of central and eastern Zhejiang. Heavy rain was also expected across Shanghai and parts of Fujian, Anhui and Jiangsu provinces through Monday afternoon. In Fujian, nearly 99,000 people were relocated from risky areas on Saturday evening ahead of the storm.

Services on more than 200 ferry routes were suspended in Zhejiang and Fujian, state news agency Xinhua reported. Work at offshore projects was halted, and 474 construction vessels had been called to port by Friday morning. Some train services in affected areas were also suspended on Sunday to ensure passenger safety, according to state media.

How has Typhoon Dolphin affected Japan and Taiwan?

Typhoon Dolphin brought heavy rain and strong winds to Japan's Okinawa before reaching China. Seven people on the island suffered minor injuries, including a man aged over 100 who was blown over by gusts and hit his head after falling. By Sunday afternoon, 5,290 households in Okinawa were without electricity, according to regional utility Okinawa Electric Power.

In Taiwan, dozens of ferry services were suspended and more than 180 flights were cancelled as the storm brought downpours and strong winds to the island's north on Sunday. Scientists say human-driven climate change is making extreme heat events more frequent and intense worldwide. Typhoon Dolphin's arrival comes two weeks after Typhoon Noul struck southern Guangdong province, which authorities at the time called the strongest storm to hit China this year, killing three people and damaging hundreds of homes in the Philippines before reaching the mainland.