Full Breakdown
Typhoon Dolphin Ravages Eastern China: Massive Evacuations, Flooding and Transport Disruptions
8/11/2026, 1:56:57 AM
Core Event – Landfall and Immediate Impacts
On August 9, 2026, Typhoon Dolphin struck the Chinese coast near Yuhuan in Zhejiang province. State broadcaster CCTV reported maximum sustained winds of 151 km/h (94 mph) at landfall, while the National Meteorological Centre (NMC) later estimated 162 km/h (101 mph). The storm weakened to a tropical storm after landfall but continued heavy rain across Zhejiang, Shanghai, Anhui, Jiangsu and Shandong the next day.
Background & Context
Dolphin formed as a tropical depression on July 26 and intensified to a very strong typhoon by July 28. It travelled more than 6,000 km, giving it a lifespan three times longer than an average typhoon and an unusually large circulation that enveloped eastern China.
Data & Statistics
- Evacuations: State media said over 1 million people were moved to safety, including 900,000 in Wenzhou, 390,000 in Taizhou, 215,600 in Shanghai and 98,900 in Fujian.
- Flight cancellations: CCTV reported 943 flights cancelled at Shanghai’s Pudong and Hongqiao airports; VariFlight recorded roughly 1,500 cancellations.
- Rainfall forecasts: Authorities warned of 200–400 mm of rain, with parts of central and eastern Zhejiang expected to receive 250–500 mm.
- Wind speeds: Reported sustained winds range from 151 km/h (CCTV) to 162 km/h (NMC).
Official Statements & Responses
- The NMC issued a red-level typhoon alert on the morning of August 9 and downgraded the system to a tropical storm on Monday.
- CCTV announced that Shanghai’s Jinshan district would temporarily halt non-essential businesses, classes, outdoor events and transit services.
- Wang Haiping, chief forecaster at the NMC, told CCTV that Dolphin was expected to track westward, slow over central and southwestern China, and gradually lose strength, prolonging heavy rain and flood risk.
- Beijing authorities raised warnings for torrential rain and said the capital was prepared to activate its flood-control response on August 11.
On-the-Ground Reports
Residents streamed live video of water-logged streets in Shanghai’s Jiading and Qingpu districts. In Wenzhou, a TikTok video showed a truck overturned by gale-force winds. Local media reported a nine-year-old boy from Wenling missing after being swept into the sea.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Wind intensity: CCTV cites 151 km/h, NMC cites 162 km/h.
- Flight cancellations: CCTV’s 943-flight figure contrasts with VariFlight’s estimate of about 1,500.
- Evacuation totals: Reports range from “more than 1 million” to “1.5 million” people relocated, with Shanghai’s numbers varying between 30,300 and 215,600.
- Casualties: “Chinese officials have not reported any casualties” — BBC, while local reports of a missing child and deaths in the Philippines and Japan highlight gaps in official Chinese casualty accounting.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Chinese officials have not reported any casualties” — BBC
- “I’ve lived in Shanghai for 10 years, and this is the first time I’ve experienced such inconvenience from a typhoon,” — Hou Lina
Why It Matters
The storm hit China’s densely populated eastern seaboard, disrupting air, rail and maritime transport and threatening major river systems such as the Qiantang, Yong, Jiao and Shuiyang. Prolonged heavy rainfall raises the risk of flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas, potentially affecting millions of residents and critical economic hubs. Scientists link Dolphin’s intensity and longevity to the ongoing El Niño event and broader climate-change trends, underscoring the vulnerability of coastal megacities to extreme tropical cyclones.
