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Typhoon Dolphin: China evacuates more than 1 million people as massive storm arrives

BBC News's profile
Original Story by BBC News
August 10, 2026
Typhoon Dolphin: China evacuates more than 1 million people as massive storm arrives

Context:

Typhoon Dolphin slammed eastern China, triggering mass evacuations of over a million people as it made landfall in Yuhuan and then Wenzhou, prompting transportation disruptions and widespread preparations. Authorities downgraded the red alert to a tropical storm while warning of torrential rains, floods, and landslide risks that could persist through midweek. The storm prompted closures of major attractions, evacuation shelters, and targeted relief measures across Zhejiang and neighboring provinces, with extensive rain forecasts and sheltering support for residents. The episode follows a broader regional impact, including misinformation controls and related weather effects in nearby areas, signaling a prolonged, high-risk monsoon spell with ongoing implications for infrastructure and public safety. The outlook emphasizes continued rainfall, flight and ferry disruptions, and continued caution through the week.

Dive Deeper:

  • More than a million residents in eastern China, including Shanghai, were evacuated as Dolphin approached, with authorities reporting widespread sheltering and disruption of daily life.

  • Dolphin first made landfall in Yuhuan, Zhejiang, bringing maximum winds of about 150 km/h, then struck Wenzhou roughly an hour later, according to meteorological authorities.

  • Transportation across the region halted, and Shanghai alone cancelled about 1,400 flights, while authorities began reopening or restricting services as conditions evolved.

  • Forecasters warned of 250–500 mm of rain across parts of Zhejiang, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsu, and Shanghai, heightening flood and landslide risks through Wednesday.

  • Local actions included waiving parking fees in Hangzhou, relocating residents in Wenzhou, opening hundreds of shelters, suspending ferries, and halting more than 100 offshore construction projects in Fujian.

  • State media reported detentions over misinformation related to the storm, including false videos around a fall in Shanghai, reflecting tight controls on online content during the crisis.

  • Beyond China, Dolphin caused heavy rains in the Philippines, Okinawa, and parts of Taiwan, with casualties and injuries reported abroad, while Hong Kong experienced record heat as the typhoon circulated.

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