Typhoon Dolphin slams China, cancels 700 flights

Typhoon Dolphin, described by France 24 as the biggest storm to hit China this year, lashed eastern provinces on Monday with torrential rain and winds up to 120 mph, grounding hundreds of flights and forcing authorities to evacuate over a million people.

The storm made landfall near Wenzhou in Zhejiang province Sunday night, following days of heavy preparation. Local governments had canceled classes, shut coastal attractions and mobilized rescue teams as Dolphin moved north from the Philippines, where it killed at least four people and destroyed homes last week. Forecasters warned that even as the typhoon weakened, the risk of flooding and landslides remained high across densely populated areas already saturated from weeks of monsoon rains.

More than 700 flights were canceled at Shanghai’s two international airports alone, stranding thousands of travelers. Rail services slowed or halted in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and ports suspended operations. State media reported over 1.2 million people evacuated across Zhejiang, Fujian and Jiangsu, with temporary shelters set up in schools and community centers. Power outages affected 300,000 households in Ningbo, and emergency crews were deployed to clear fallen trees and debris from roads.

Meteorologists say Dolphin is part of an unusually active Pacific typhoon season, fueled by warm ocean temperatures linked to climate change. While typhoons hit China every year, the scale and timing of evacuations reflect growing efforts to minimize loss of life and economic damage. Experts warn that as storms intensify, infrastructure in coastal megacities like Shanghai and Ningbo will face increasing strain. Recovery operations are expected to continue for days, with authorities urging residents to stay alert for flash floods and power failures as the storm’s remnants move inland.