More than one million people were evacuated across eastern China, including Shanghai, after Typhoon Dolphin made landfall, disrupting transport services and raising fears of flooding and landslides.
Dolphin first struck Yuhuan in Zhejiang province at around 5:30pm local time, with maximum wind speeds of 150 kmph, according to meteorological authorities. The storm made a second landfall in the city of Wenzhou about an hour later.
The typhoon caused widespread travel disruptions, with around 1,400 flights cancelled in Shanghai alone.
Chinese authorities had earlier issued their highest-level red alert for Dolphin. The storm was later downgraded to a tropical storm as it moved inland.
Despite the downgrade, the system continued to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds, with authorities warning of torrential rain, severe flooding and landslides.
Heavy rain was forecast across Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, as well as Shanghai.
Local governments urged residents to avoid outdoor activities as a precaution. Several major tourist attractions remained closed, including parts of Disneyland and Legoland, as well as a number of viewing platforms along Shanghai’s Bund waterfront.
Authorities continued to monitor the storm’s movement and warned residents in affected areas to remain alert to the risk of flooding and landslides.
