Typhoon Dolphin weakens but disrupts travel in east China

Typhoon Dolphin has weakened but has still disrupted travel in eastern China, causing hundreds of flight cancellations. The storm brought heavy rain to the region, prompting the National Meteorological Centre to issue its least severe typhoon alert. Despite the storm's weakening, some cities have resumed public transport, but many local trains have been suspended in Shanghai.

The airport authority in Shanghai reported 943 flight cancellations due to the typhoon. Authorities have issued a severe flash flood alert for parts of eastern and southern Zhejiang. Zhejiang's Ningbo international airport is set to resume flight operations by midday, but warns that some journeys may still be delayed or cancelled.

Northern China, including Beijing, is also expected to face extreme weather this week, with five districts issuing red alerts for heavy rain. Some areas have warned of landslide and flooding risks. Typhoon Dolphin triggered over 1,000 flight cancellations and prompted tens of thousands of evacuations over the weekend. This marks the strongest storm to hit China this year, following Typhoon Noul in southern Guangdong province.

In southern and central China last month, Typhoon Maysak caused devastating floods, resulting in 39 deaths and 331 injuries. Scientists warn that as the planet continues to heat up due to fossil fuel emissions, the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events will increase. China is the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, but it is also a global leader in renewable energy, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.