Typhoon Dolphin Forces Flight Cancellations and Mass Evacuations in China
Shanghai cancels 1,300+ flights, evacuates 300,000+ as Typhoon Dolphin nears China coast after lashing Taiwan.
Shanghai's two main airports have cancelled more than 1,300 flights as Typhoon Dolphin barrels toward China's eastern coast, prompting large-scale evacuations in the region.
Authorities have relocated roughly 300,000 people from vulnerable areas, with the heaviest movements taking place in Zhejiang province. In Taizhou city alone, about 390,000 residents were moved to safety on Saturday evening, while Shanghai evacuated over 30,000 people from higher-risk zones.
The storm, packing maximum sustained winds of around 162 kilometers per hour (101 mph), is expected to make landfall late Sunday in Zhejiang province and the northern parts of neighboring Fujian province.
Before reaching the mainland, the typhoon's outer bands lashed northern Taiwan on Saturday, including the capital Taipei, bringing heavy rains. Several Taiwanese airlines also cancelled flights to China on Sunday as a precaution.
Forecasters warn that affected areas could receive between 200 and 400 millimeters (7.9 to 15.7 inches) of rainfall over the coming days, raising serious concerns about flooding and landslides. Zhejiang authorities have specifically flagged a high risk of landslides in the province.
At Shanghai's Hongqiao and Pudong airports, roughly 60 percent of Sunday's scheduled flights have been grounded. Meanwhile, Zhejiang has suspended all water-based activities, including ferry services and cruises, as the region braces for the storm's impact.