China evacuates thousands as Typhoon Dolphin brings heavy rain and flood risks

Monday 10 August 2026 - 21:45

By: Azzat Manal

China evacuates thousands as Typhoon Dolphin brings heavy rain and flood risks

Thousands of people have been evacuated in eastern China as Typhoon Dolphin brought intense rainfall and flooding, while authorities warned that the risk of further flooding remains even as the storm weakens after making landfall.

According to China’s state news agency Xinhua, around 167,900 people were relocated from vulnerable areas on land and at sea in Fujian province. In Shanghai, approximately 215,600 people were evacuated from areas considered at risk on Sunday.

Heavy rain was expected to continue across parts of Fujian, particularly around Ningde and Nanping, prompting authorities to maintain heightened monitoring of rivers, roads and other vulnerable areas.

The storm also caused significant disruptions to transportation and tourism. Fujian authorities suspended 686 passenger road services and 658 train services, while 234 tourist attractions were temporarily closed. Numerous cultural and tourism events were also cancelled.

Shanghai’s Legoland resort was temporarily shut down after heavy rainfall affected the city, with local authorities issuing their highest level of rainstorm warning in the district where the attraction is located.

Typhoon Dolphin is the 13th typhoon recorded in China this year. The National Meteorological Center said the storm made landfall twice in Zhejiang province on Sunday before moving inland.

The weather agency issued a blue alert on Monday, forecasting that the storm would move northwest at between 15 and 20 kilometers per hour before gradually weakening.

Despite the weakening system, authorities continue to warn residents in affected areas to remain cautious as heavy rainfall could sustain flood and landslide risks.