Eastern China Hit by Typhoon Dolphin as Flood Risks Rise

Typhoon Dolphin has brought heavy rain and strong winds to eastern China, flooding parts of Shanghai and causing widespread transportation disruptions.

The storm made landfall in Zhejiang Province on Sunday evening with maximum sustained winds of 151 km/h before weakening to a tropical storm. Its rain bands continued moving inland on Monday, affecting Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangsu and Shandong provinces.

More than 1,300 flights were canceled at Shanghai's Pudong and Hongqiao airports, while flooding affected several districts, including Jiading and Qingpu. Authorities in Jinshan District allowed businesses, schools and public services to suspend non-essential operations temporarily.

Forecasters expect the storm to continue moving toward the central provinces of Hubei and Henan, bringing heavy rain and increasing the risk of flooding. Beijing has raised its rainstorm alert level, while authorities in Tianjin and Hebei are also preparing for heavy rainfall later this week.

(Reuters, bak)