CHINA: More than 1 million people were evacuated from their homes in eastern China on Monday after Typhoon Dolphin struck the coastal region, bringing strong winds, heavy rainfall and flooding that disrupted transportation and daily life across several provinces.
Authorities issued the country’s highest level typhoon warning before the storm arrived but later reduced the alert level as Dolphin weakened into a tropical storm. Despite losing strength, officials warned that the storm could still cause severe flooding, landslides and heavy rainfall through Wednesday.
The storm disrupted transportation services across the region, with around 1,400 flights canceled in Shanghai alone. Authorities also advised residents to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities as strong winds and rising water levels continued.
Several popular tourist locations were closed, including sections of Disneyland, Legoland and viewing areas along Shanghai’s Bund waterfront.
Forecasters warned that parts of Zhejiang could receive between 250 and 500 millimeters of rainfall in the coming days, local governments have opened emergency shelters and taken measures to support people affected by the storm.
In Wenzhou, authorities moved about 900,000 residents to safer locations and opened more than 1,000 emergency shelters. Another 390,000 people were evacuated in Taizhou. In Hangzhou, Zhejiang’s capital, officials removed parking fees at public parking areas to help people seeking shelter from the storm.
The coastal province of Fujian suspended several passenger ferry services and stopped more than 100 offshore construction projects due to dangerous weather conditions.
Authorities also warned about false information spreading online during the storm. Two people were detained for sharing misleading content, including an AI generated video that falsely claimed a person in Shanghai had fallen from a building.
