**One Million Evacuated as Typhoon Dolphin Hits China’s East Coast**
Typhoon Dolphin, the most powerful tropical cyclone to strike China this year, made landfall on the eastern coast on Sunday, August 6, 2023. The storm brought with it torrential rain and strong winds, prompting authorities to issue warnings about potential flooding and landslides across several provinces.
The typhoon first impacted Japan's southern Okinawa prefecture, where it injured six individuals and disrupted power to over 50,000 buildings. Afterward, Typhoon Dolphin made landfall near Yuhuan in Zhejiang province at approximately 5:30 p.m. local time (0930 GMT). At landfall, the storm recorded maximum sustained winds of 42 meters per second (151 km/h), categorizing it as a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
In anticipation of the storm's impact, local authorities took proactive measures to ensure public safety. Offshore workers were relocated to safer areas, vessels were ordered back to port, and inspections were intensified at reservoirs, mountain streams, landslide-prone regions, construction sites, and tourist destinations.
Forecasts predict that torrential rain will continue across various regions, including Zhejiang, Shanghai, northern Fujian, northeastern Jiangxi, central and southern Anhui, and much of Jiangsu, lasting through August 10. Some areas in central and eastern Zhejiang could receive between 250 to 500 mm (9.8 to 19.7 inches) of rainfall. Following landfall, Typhoon Dolphin is expected to move westward, gradually losing strength while prolonging heavy rain and increasing the risk of flooding and landslides, particularly in mountainous regions and along smaller rivers.
The storm has caused significant disruptions to transportation systems across eastern China, leading to the evacuation of over one million people from their homes. In Shanghai alone, approximately 30,300 residents were relocated, and around 1,500 flights were canceled due to the adverse weather conditions, as reported by flight-tracking data provider VariFlight.
One tourist from Guangdong, surnamed Chen, shared his experience of being stranded in Shanghai after his family’s flight was canceled. They were rebooked for a flight scheduled for 10 p.m. on Monday, but uncertainty loomed over whether it would take off. Chen remarked that for residents of Guangdong, typhoons are a common occurrence, likening them to everyday life.
In Zhejiang province, the city of Wenzhou took significant precautions by relocating more than 900,000 residents and opening over 1,000 emergency shelters. In Fujian province, authorities evacuated 98,900 individuals from high-risk areas and elevated the typhoon emergency response to Level III. Similar Level III emergency responses were activated in Zhejiang, Shanghai, and Jiangsu.
Fujian maritime authorities reported that 55 coastal passenger ferry routes were suspended, all 115 offshore construction projects were halted, and 290 construction vessels were moved to sheltered waters. The Ministry of Water Resources warned of potential major flooding in the Qiantang, Yong, Jiao, and Shuiyang rivers, while smaller rivers in the most affected areas could exceed warning levels. Authorities also cautioned about a high risk of geological disasters in parts of Zhejiang, advising residents in areas under a red mountain-torrent warning to heed local evacuation orders.
In preparation for the storm, Shanghai’s Yangshan port cleared its berths of ships and relocated over 500 small and medium-sized vessels to sheltered locations, as stated by the city’s maritime safety administration.
As Typhoon Dolphin continues its path through China, experts have noted that global warming is contributing to the increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, including stronger typhoons. The situation remains dynamic, and authorities are closely monitoring the storm's progression while prioritizing the safety and well-being of residents in affected areas.