Typhoon Dolphin weakens but disrupts travel in east China

Typhoon Dolphin passed through eastern China on Monday, Aug 10, bringing heavy rain and disrupting travel. The storm weakened but still caused hundreds of flight cancellations and halted public transport in major cities like Shanghai. The National Meteorological Centre issued a least severe warning, yet warned heavy rain would continue in parts of east and central China for the following day.

Authorities in eastern Zhejiang issued a top-level flash flood alert, while authorities in Hangzhou resumed subway services on Monday morning after suspending some train operations on Sunday. Northern China also braced for extreme weather, with five districts in Beijing issuing red alerts for heavy rain and landslide and flooding risks.

Typhoon Dolphin had already triggered over 1,000 flight cancellations and tens of thousands of evacuations when it made its two landfalls along the coast of Zhejiang province. The storm was the strongest to hit China this year, as reported by authorities in Guangdong province. Scientists warn that extreme weather events will become more frequent and intense due to climate change, despite China being a major emitter of greenhouse gases and aiming to become carbon-neutral by 2060.