In a dramatic response to Typhoon Dolphin, which made landfall on Sunday evening, Chinese authorities have evacuated over one million residents from their homes, including those in the bustling financial hub of Shanghai. The storm, initially classified as a powerful typhoon with maximum wind speeds of 150 km/h (94 mph), has since been downgraded to a tropical storm. However, the threat remains significant, with warnings of severe flooding and landslides expected to persist until Wednesday.
A Force of Nature
Typhoon Dolphin first hit the coastal region of Yuhuan in Zhejiang province at approximately 17:30 local time (09:30 GMT) on Sunday. Just an hour later, it made a second landfall in Wenzhou, wreaking havoc across the eastern seaboard. The storm’s impact has led to widespread disruption, with nearly 1,000 flights cancelled in Shanghai as heavy rains inundated the area.
Authorities had previously issued a red alert—the highest level of warning—indicating the seriousness of the situation. While the immediate threat of the typhoon has lessened, meteorologists caution that the storm’s remnants will continue to bring torrential rains, with forecasts of 250 to 500mm expected in certain parts of Zhejiang.
Evacuations and Emergency Measures
In response to the storm, officials have mobilised extensive evacuation efforts. In Zhejiang, nearly 900,000 individuals have been relocated, with over 1,000 emergency shelters established to provide refuge. The city of Taizhou alone has seen around 390,000 residents evacuated from high-risk areas.
Hangzhou, the provincial capital, has implemented measures to assist those seeking safety, waiving parking fees in public areas for vehicles needing to escape the flooding. Coastal provinces, including Fujian, are also taking precautions, suspending numerous ferry routes and halting more than 100 offshore construction projects to ensure public safety.
State media reports have highlighted the dire situation in Shanghai, where residents are wading through floodwaters in the city’s iconic former French Concession. Despite the chaos, no fatalities have been officially reported, although a nine-year-old boy from Wenling is currently missing after being swept into the ocean.
The Broader Impact
Typhoon Dolphin’s influence extends beyond China. The storm has already caused significant devastation in the Philippines, where eight lives have been lost due to heavy monsoon rains linked to Dolphin. Reports indicate that over 7,000 individuals are currently seeking shelter in evacuation centres across the country. In Japan’s Okinawa, five elderly citizens sustained injuries from the storm’s ferocious winds, underscoring the widespread impact of this natural disaster.
In a concerning twist, misinformation regarding the storm has proliferated on Chinese social media, prompting authorities to detain individuals for disseminating false information. One man was found guilty of creating a misleading AI-generated video claiming that a person had fallen from a building during the storm, while another altered storm footage in a deceptive manner.
Why it Matters
The unfolding situation surrounding Typhoon Dolphin serves as a stark reminder of the increasing intensity of tropical storms in the context of climate change. With this year marked by a robust El Niño phenomenon, experts warn that we may witness more frequent and severe weather events. The evacuation of over a million residents highlights the urgent need for robust disaster preparedness strategies, as communities grapple not only with the immediate effects of such storms but also with the long-term implications for public safety and infrastructure resilience.