BEIJING, August 10. /Dunyo IA/. Chinese authorities evacuated more than one million people from eastern regions of the country, including Shanghai, due to powerful Typhoon Dolphin. The storm brought torrential rain and caused serious disruptions to transportation, reports Dunyo IA correspondent, citing with “Xinhua” News Agency.

Earlier, “Dolphin” was issued the highest-level weather warning and became the strongest storm to hit China this year. When it made landfall in Zhejiang Province, wind speeds reached 150 km/h. The typhoon later made landfall for a second time in the city of Wenzhou.

Authorities downgraded the storm to a tropical storm, but warned that heavy rain, as well as the risk of flooding and landslides, would continue through Wednesday. In Shanghai, around 1,000 flights were cancelled. In some parts of the city, the first floors of buildings were flooded.

Residents were urged to avoid going outdoors. Several popular tourist attractions, as well as viewing platforms along the waterfront, were closed. In Fujian Province, dozens of passenger ferry services were suspended, and more than 100 maritime construction projects were halted.

According to state media, a nine-year-old boy went missing in Zhejiang Province and was reportedly swept out to sea. No deaths have been officially reported in China.

Before reaching China, “Dolphin” brought heavy rain to the Philippines, northern Taiwan and Japan’s Okinawa. Eight people were killed in the Philippines, while more than 7,000 residents are currently staying in evacuation centers. Five elderly people in Okinawa sustained minor injuries.

In Hong Kong, a record temperature of 36.9 degrees Celsius was recorded over the weekend. Experts estimate that due to a strong El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) this year, typhoons in the western Pacific could be more intense.

Photo by “Reuters”