Typhoon Dolphin Makes Landfall in Eastern China, Flooding Shanghai and Grounding Flights

Typhoon Dolphin, the 13th typhoon of the year, made landfall twice in eastern China, lashing Zhejiang province, Fujian province, and Shanghai with torrential rain and fierce winds.

According to Chinese state media including Xinhua News Agency and China Central Television (CCTV) on the 10th, Dolphin landed on the coast of Taizhou in Zhejiang province at 5:30 p.m. the previous day, followed by a second landfall on the coast of Yueqing in Zhejiang province at around 6 p.m.

At the time of its initial landfall, the maximum wind speed near the center reached 42 meters per second, demonstrating formidable strength.

Across Zhejiang province, strong winds knocked down trees and bicycles, making it difficult for residents to keep their footing.

Ahead of the typhoon's landfall, large-scale evacuations were carried out in eastern China.

At least 210,000 people were evacuated across Zhejiang province, Fujian province, and Shanghai, while Reuters estimated that more than 1 million people were evacuated in regions affected by the typhoon.

In Shanghai, torrential rain began pouring down from the morning of the previous day, flooding about 100 downtown roads and underpasses.

Some areas recorded daily precipitation exceeding 200 millimeters, with residents seen navigating flooded roads on electric scooters.


The typhoon also caused major disruptions to transportation, including flights, railways, and marine shipping.

At Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, 1,400 flights were canceled, accounting for about 60 percent of all scheduled flights.

Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport also saw about 300 flight cancellations, while all flights were grounded at Ningbo, Taizhou, Lishui, and Zhoushan airports.

Major ports such as Ningbo-Zhoushan Port and Shanghai Port suspended or adjusted their operations.

Affected by the typhoon, Chinese authorities closed ports and tourist facilities and implemented emergency measures in some regions, including suspending schools, businesses, and transportation services.

China's National Meteorological Center forecasted that heavy downpours will continue in eastern coastal regions until the 12th.

It warned that exceptionally heavy rainfall is expected in parts of Zhejiang and Anhui provinces, urging preparations against secondary disasters such as landslides and floods.

While the official scale of casualties resulting from Typhoon Dolphin's landfall in China has not yet been confirmed, it was reported that a 9-year-old boy was swept away by high waves and went missing off the coast of Wenling in Zhejiang province on the 7th, two days before the typhoon hit.

In Taiwan, the impact of Dolphin brought continuous strong winds and heavy rain, with authorities reporting 632 disaster-related damage reports and six injuries as of the afternoon of the 9th.

Notably, at the Port of Keelung in northern Taiwan, strong winds caused a domino effect that toppled multiple large containers weighing dozens of tons, though fortunately no casualties were reported.
 

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.