Typhoon Dolphin makes landfall in China, triggers mass evacuation and flight cancellations
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "Typhoon Dolphin makes landfall in China, triggers mass evacuation and flight cancellations")
Passengers walk under a departure board at Ningbo railway station as most trains are cancelled due to approaching Typhoon Dolphin on August 9, 2026. Photograph: (AFP)
Typhoon Dolphin made landfall in China's Zhejiang province with 151 kmph winds, forcing 1 million people to evacuate and cancelling 1,500 flights.
Typhoon Dolphin has made landfall on China’s eastern coast, in Yuhuan, Zhejiang province, on Sunday, August 9, at around 5:30 pm local time. China's meteorological authorities said that the cyclone brought torrential rain and strong wind with a sustained speed of 151 kmph, equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. It is being categorised as the most powerful tropical cyclone to strike China this year.
The cyclone has triggered mass evacuation of roughly 1 million people across eastern China. Workers were moved away from offshore facilities, directed vessels to return to the ports, and increased monitoring of reservoirs, mountain streams, landslide and flood-prone areas. Zhejiang, Shanghai, northern Fujian, northeastern Jiangxi, central and southern Anhui, and much of Jiangsu are likely to receive torrential rainfall through August 10. According to forecasts, parts of Central China could receive around 250-500 mm (9.8-19.7 inches) of rain. Roughly 1500 flights were cancelled in Shanghai, according to flight tracking data by VariFlight. In addition to that, 55 coastal passenger ferry routes had been suspended, all 115 offshore construction projects halted, and 290 construction vessels moved to sheltered waters.
After making landfall in eastern China, it is likely to move westward before slowing over central and southwestern China, while losing its strength. Wang Haiping, chief forecaster at the National Meteorological Centre, told state broadcaster CCTV. That could prolong heavy rain and raise the risk of flooding and landslides, especially in mountainous areas and along smaller rivers.
Before reaching the Chinese mainland, Typhoon Dolphin tore through Japan's southern islands, peaking with sustained winds of 162 kmph and dangerous gusts up to 216 kmph. It injured six and left roughly 50000 houses without power.
