China Evacuates Over 1 Million as Typhoon Dolphin Makes Landfall

Chinese authorities evacuated over one million residents from homes in eastern regions—including Shanghai—as Typhoon Dolphin made landfall, unleashing torrential rainfall and severely disrupting transportation networks. Flood and landslide warnings remain in effect as the storm moves northward.

Flight Cancellations and Transport Disruption

Approximately 1,000 flights were canceled at Shanghai’s airports alone on Monday, coinciding with broad transportation disruptions across eastern China. Rail services, ferry routes, and road traffic faced extensive delays and suspensions, particularly in Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Anhui provinces.

Landfall Details and Meteorological Assessment

Dolphin struck land first at 17:30 local time Sunday in Yuhuan City, Zhejiang Province, with maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour. It made a second landfall near Wenzhou approximately one hour later. Though downgraded to a tropical storm shortly after landfall, heavy rain, flash floods, and landslide risks persist through Wednesday.

The China Meteorological Administration had issued its highest-level warning—the red alert—citing Dolphin as the most powerful typhoon to strike China in 2026. Forecasters predicted heavy rainfall on Monday across Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai.

Tourist Sites Closed Amid Rising Floodwaters

Authorities urged residents to avoid outdoor activities. Several prominent tourist sites were temporarily shuttered, including sections of Shanghai Disneyland and Legoland, as well as multiple observation platforms overlooking the Bund. State media broadcast footage showing rainwater inundating ground-floor shops in Shanghai’s former French Concession, while some residents waded through street-level flooding.

Fatalities and Evacuation Scale in Zhejiang

A nine-year-old child was reported missing in Wenling City, Zhejiang Province, after being swept into the sea by floodwaters. As of the latest official update, no fatalities had been confirmed within mainland China attributable to Dolphin.

In Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang, municipal authorities waived parking fees at all public lots for drivers seeking safe shelter amid high wind and flood risks. In Wenzhou, around 900,000 people were evacuated, and more than 1,000 emergency shelters opened. Approximately 390,000 residents were relocated from their homes in Taizhou City.

Along Fujian Province’s coast, maritime authorities suspended dozens of passenger ferry routes and halted over 100 offshore construction projects as precautionary measures.

Unusually Long Track and Intense Rain Production

According to China Central Television (CCTV), Dolphin traveled roughly 6,000 kilometers before landfall—a trajectory indicating a lifespan more than three times longer than the average typhoon. Officials noted the system’s exceptionally wide circulation and high capacity for generating torrential rainfall.

Crackdown on Misinformation

As images and videos linked to the typhoon proliferated online, Chinese authorities warned against spreading misleading information about its impacts. State media reported the detention of two individuals for disseminating false content: a 60-year-old man accused of using artificial intelligence to fabricate a video falsely depicting a person falling from a Shanghai building during the storm; and a 32-year-old man detained for re-editing and reposting social media footage of the typhoon in a manner deemed deceptive by authorities.

Regional Impacts Beyond Mainland China

Prior to reaching China, Dolphin brought heavy rainfall to the Philippines, northern Taiwan, and Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture. In the Philippines, eight deaths were reported due to monsoon rains associated with Dolphin and other concurrent storms, and over 7,000 people sought refuge in evacuation centers nationwide.

In Okinawa, five elderly residents sustained non-life-threatening injuries, according to the prefectural government—including three who fell due to strong winds. In Hong Kong, the Observatory recorded a record-high temperature of 36.9°C on Sunday, attributed to warm air masses drawn toward the city by the typhoon’s circulation.

The western Pacific typically experiences its typhoon season between May and October. Experts suggest that this year’s strong El Niño phenomenon may contribute to heightened typhoon intensity.

Chinese authorities continue monitoring Dolphin’s path and impacts, with ongoing warnings for heavy rain, flash floods, riverine flooding, and landslides across multiple regions in the coming days.