China’s National Meteorological Centre has issued a red typhoon alert,its most severe warning,as Typhoon Dolphin approaches the country’s densely populated eastern coast.
The storm is expected to make landfall late Sunday or early Monday in Zhejiang province or neighbouring Fujian,bringing heavy rain and strong winds to several parts of eastern China.
Nearly 1,400 flights in and out of Shanghai’s two main passenger airports were cancelled on Sunday,according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Another 270 inbound and outbound flights were cancelled at Hangzhou airport in Zhejiang.
Nearly 100,000 People Relocated
Authorities in Fujian had relocated nearly 99,000 people from areas considered at risk by Saturday evening,ahead of the typhoon’s expected arrival.
More than 200 ferry routes in Zhejiang and Fujian were also suspended,while work at offshore projects was halted.
A total of 474 construction vessels had been called back to port by Friday morning. Some train services in affected areas were also suspended on Sunday for passenger safety.
China’s National Meteorological Centre forecast “extraordinary torrential rain” in parts of central and eastern Zhejiang.
Heavy rainfall is also expected across Shanghai and parts of Fujian,Anhui and Jiangsu provinces through Monday afternoon.
After making landfall,Dolphin is forecast to weaken as it moves northwest across eastern China.
Storm Disrupts Taiwan and Okinawa
Before approaching mainland China,Typhoon Dolphin brought heavy rainfall and strong winds to Japan’s Okinawa.
Seven people suffered minor injuries,including a man aged over 100 who was blown over by strong winds and hit his head.
By Sunday afternoon,5,290 households in Okinawa were without electricity.
The storm also disrupted transportation in Taiwan,where dozens of ferry services were suspended and more than 180 flights were cancelled as heavy rain and strong winds affected the island’s north.
Dolphin’s arrival comes two weeks after Typhoon Noul struck southern Guangdong province.
Authorities described Noul at the time as the strongest typhoon to hit China this year. Before reaching China,the storm killed three people and damaged hundreds of homes in the Philippines.
