Shanghai’s airports were forced to cancel a significant number of flights on Monday due to tropical storm Dolphin bringing heavy rainfall to eastern China. After being downgraded from a typhoon, Dolphin caused flooding in several areas following its landfall. Shanghai’s Hongqiao and Pudong airports canceled over 900 flights, representing around 40% of the scheduled flights, following the cancellation of approximately 1,300 flights the day before.
In response to the adverse weather conditions, Shanghai suspended some metro lines, and China Railway Chengdu Group suspended 115 trains. Authorities issued warnings of potential severe flooding and landslides in certain regions. In Zhejiang province’s Yueqing city, officials conducted search and rescue operations for individuals trapped in flooded homes.
The China Meteorological Administration reported that Dolphin was moving northwest at a speed of 15 to 20 kilometers per hour and was anticipated to weaken further. The storm made landfall in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, with wind speeds of 151 kilometers per hour after impacting northern Taiwan with heavy rain over the weekend.
Elsewhere, tropical storm Chan-hom was on a path towards Japan’s Pacific coast. With winds of 83 kilometers per hour on Monday morning, the storm was projected to slightly intensify before making landfall between Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
In Shanghai, many streets in suburban districts remained inundated with water, as shared in live streams by residents on social media. One resident, Hou Lina, described the unprecedented flooding caused by the typhoon, emphasizing the inconvenience caused by the extensive waterlogging.
Authorities evacuated hundreds of thousands of people in anticipation of Dolphin’s impact, with precautionary relocations in various provinces. Hangzhou, the capital city of Zhejiang, temporarily closed popular tourist spots and public facilities as a safety measure.
As Dolphin continued its course, Beijing braced for heavy rainfall and potential flash floods, prompting authorities to prepare for flood control measures. The storm’s extensive reach and prolonged activity posed challenges for affected regions, with comparisons drawn to the destructive impact of previous storms in the area.