More than one million people have been evacuated from their homes in eastern China, including in the country's biggest city Shanghai, as Typhoon Dolphin made landfall. Wind speeds of 150km/h (94mph) hit Yuhuan in Zhejiang province at 5.30pm local time, before a second landfall in Wenzhou about an hour later, according to meteorological authorities.
Evacuations and shelters
In Zhejiang's capital Hangzhou, parking fees were waived in all public spaces for drivers seeking shelter amid strong winds and floodwaters, BBC reports. In Wenzhou, authorities relocated about 900,000 residents and opened more than 1,000 emergency shelters. In Taizhou, about 390,000 people were evacuated from their homes.
Storm impact and warnings
No casualties have been reported by Chinese officials. Forecasters said parts of the province could receive 250mm to 500mm of rain over the coming days. Authorities issued a highest-level red alert, later downgraded to a tropical storm by Monday morning. The storm is moving inland, with warnings of torrential rains, severe flooding, and landslide risks through Wednesday.
The storm moved over 6,000km before landfall, suggesting a lifespan more than three times that of an average typhoon, according to China's state broadcaster CCTV. Footage showed ground-floor businesses flooded and people walking through ankle-deep waters. Typhoons can grow more intense during an El Niño year.
