Typhoon Dolphin Batters Eastern China With Heavy Rain and Floods

Typhoon Dolphin has pushed inland after making two landfalls along the coast of Zhejiang Province, unleashing heavy rainfall and triggering flood-control measures across several cities in eastern China.

In Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, authorities activated a Level-II flood-control emergency response on Monday afternoon. The rapid rise in river and lake levels prompted a red flood alert for the local section of the Grand Canal. To manage the surge, officials mobilized sluice stations along the Yangtze River, the Grand Canal, the Wangyu River, and nearby lakes, freeing up 220 million cubic meters of storage capacity.

Nantong, also in Jiangsu, recorded winds of Force 10 on Monday. All fishing and engineering vessels had returned to port and berthed safely before the storm arrived.

Anhui Province experienced significant impacts as well. The Kuotan River Hydrological Station in Yuexi County recorded 309 millimeters of precipitation. Local authorities responded by closing scenic spots and construction sites and evacuating 1,316 people. Heavy rain triggered multiple landslides and road collapses, prompting crews to deploy machinery and clear fallen rocks and trees to restore traffic.

Tianchang City in Anhui issued a red heavy-rain alert on Monday afternoon. Short-term torrential rain waterlogged low-lying urban areas, and drainage operations were launched to keep roads passable for residents.

The downpour also raised water levels in the Pihe River, leading water conservancy authorities to declare the river's first flood of the year on Tuesday.

In Jiangxi Province, the Lushan Scenic Area was temporarily closed on Monday due to continuous rainfall.

China uses a four-tier color-coded warning system for typhoons, with red as the most severe, followed by orange, yellow, and blue. The emergency response system also has four levels, with Level I being the highest.