Typhoon Dolphin makes landfall in China after flight cancellations, evacuations

Typhoon Dolphin made landfall in densely populated eastern China on Sunday, triggering over 1,000 flight cancellations, evacuations and a top-level alert. The storm's center moved over the coastline near Yuhuan City in Zhejiang Province at 5:30 PM local time, with maximum wind speeds exceeding 150 km/h. Nearly 1,400 flights out of Shanghai's two main airports were cancelled, along with 270 departures from Hangzhou's airport.

The typhoon's effects were felt as far away as Hong Kong, where a record high temperature of 36.9C was recorded due to warm air pushed over the city by the storm. As the typhoon moved inland, its outer subsiding air brought extremely hot weather to Hong Kong from Tuesday to Wednesday. Typhoon Dolphin also hit Japan's Okinawa before reaching China, causing seven minor injuries and leaving 5,290 households without electricity.

In Taiwan, ferry services were suspended and over 180 flights were cancelled. China's meteorological authorities issued a red alert, forecasting extraordinary torrential rain in central and eastern Zhejiang, as well as parts of Fujian, Anhui and Jiangsu provinces through Monday afternoon. The typhoon was expected to weaken after making landfall while moving in a northwesterly direction.

In Fujian, nearly 99,000 people were relocated from risky areas prior to the storm's arrival, and services on over 200 ferry routes were suspended. Work at offshore projects was halted, and 474 construction vessels were called to port by Friday. Train services in affected areas were also suspended. Typhoon Dolphin's arrival comes two weeks after Typhoon Noul struck southern Guangdong province, causing three deaths and widespread damage.