Massive evacuation efforts and transportation disruptions as rare prolonged typhoon batters coastal regions
SHANGHAI — China’s eastern seaboard braced for impact Sunday as Typhoon Dolphin made landfall, triggering the evacuation of more than one million residents across Zhejiang province and Shanghai in one of the region’s most significant storm responses in recent years.
The typhoon slammed into Yuhuan in Zhejiang province at 5:30 PM local time Sunday, packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour (94 miles per hour), according to meteorological authorities. Approximately one hour later, the storm made a second landfall in the city of Wenzhou, unleashing torrential rains and causing widespread disruption across the densely populated coastal region.
Authorities had issued their highest-level red alert ahead of the storm’s arrival, though by Monday morning the system had been downgraded to a tropical storm as it continued its inland trajectory.
Unprecedented Lifespan and Intensity
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that Dolphin traveled an extraordinary distance of 6,000 kilometers before making landfall, suggesting a lifespan more than three times that of an average typhoon. The storm also possesses a massive circulation size and intense rainfall capacity, characteristics that have heightened concerns about prolonged flooding risks.
The typhoon’s unusual longevity has drawn attention from meteorologists, who note that its extended path across the western Pacific allowed it to accumulate significant moisture and energy before striking the Chinese mainland.
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Massive Evacuation and Emergency Response
In Wenzhou alone, authorities relocated approximately 900,000 residents and established more than 1,000 emergency shelters. The neighboring city of Taizhou evacuated an additional 390,000 people from their homes, bringing the total displaced across the region to over one million.
The scale of the evacuation represents one of China’s largest storm-related displacement efforts in recent years, reflecting both the storm’s intensity and the authorities’ commitment to preventing casualties following devastating typhoons in previous seasons.
Local governments have urged residents to avoid outdoor activities, while major tourist attractions remained closed, including sections of Disneyland and Legoland, as well as several viewing platforms along Shanghai’s iconic Bund waterfront.
Transportation Gridlock and Infrastructure Impact
The typhoon effectively halted transportation across the region, with 1,400 flights cancelled at Shanghai’s airports alone. Maritime authorities in Fujian province suspended dozens of passenger ferry routes and halted more than 100 offshore construction projects.
Footage broadcast on state media showed ground-floor businesses flooded in Shanghai’s former French Concession, a popular tourist district, with residents wading through ankle-deep waters. The imagery highlighted the storm’s immediate impact on urban infrastructure despite the city’s extensive flood mitigation systems.
Regional Impact and Casualties
The storm’s path of destruction extended beyond China’s borders. In the Philippines, eight people died due to heavy monsoon rains brought by Dolphin and preceding storms, according to the Office of Civil Defence. More than 7,000 people remain sheltering at evacuation centres nationwide.
In Japan’s Okinawa prefecture, five elderly residents suffered non-life-threatening injuries, with three falling due to the strong winds, according to prefectural government officials.
Hong Kong experienced an unusual weather phenomenon as the typhoon swept warm air over the city, with the observatory recording a record high temperature of 36.9 degrees Celsius on Sunday.
Misinformation and Public Response
The rapid spread of information—and misinformation—around the storm has prompted official intervention. Chinese state media reported that two individuals have been detained for distributing misleading content related to the typhoon.
A 60-year-old man created a fake video using artificial intelligence that falsely claimed someone in Shanghai had fallen from a building during the storm. Another 32-year-old man re-edited storm footage posted by other social media users in a manner deemed misleading by authorities.
Forecast and Ongoing Threats
Despite the downgrade to tropical storm status, weather officials continue to warn of significant dangers through Wednesday, including torrential rains, severe flooding, and the risk of landslides. Heavy rain was forecast Monday for the provinces of Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai municipality.
Parts of Zhejiang could receive between 250 to 500 millimeters of rain over the next several days, raising concerns about widespread flooding in low-lying areas.
In Hangzhou, Zhejiang’s capital city, authorities waived parking fees in all public spaces for drivers seeking shelter amid strong winds and floodwaters—a practical measure aimed at reducing storm-related risks.
Climate Context
The typhoon season in the western Pacific typically occurs between May and October, when such storms are considered more common. However, this year’s strong El Niño pattern has raised concerns among experts about potentially more intense typhoons.
Scientists have long warned that warming ocean temperatures—exacerbated by climate change—provide more energy for tropical cyclones, potentially leading to more powerful storms with greater rainfall capacity, a pattern consistent with Dolphin’s characteristics.
As Dolphin continues its inland path, authorities across multiple provinces remain on high alert, with emergency response teams positioned to address flooding and infrastructure damage. The full extent of the storm’s impact will become clearer in the coming days as floodwaters recede and damage assessments are completed.
