Over 1 million evacuated as Typhoon Dolphin hits eastern China; 1,400 Shanghai flights cancelled

China issues red alert as Typhoon Dolphin approaches. (Photo: ANI)

More than a million people were evacuated across eastern China, including Shanghai, after Typhoon Dolphin made landfall on Sunday, bringing transport services across the region to a halt and raising fears of flooding and landslides.Dolphin first struck Yuhuan in Zhejiang province at 5.30pm local time, with maximum wind speeds of 150kmph, meteorological authorities said. It made a second landfall in the city of Wenzhou about an hour later.The storm caused widespread travel disruption, with 1,400 flights cancelled in Shanghai alone.Chinese authorities had earlier issued their highest-level red alert for Dolphin. According to the BBC, the typhoon had been downgraded to a tropical storm by Monday morning.Despite the downgrade, the system continued to move inland, with authorities warning of torrential rain, severe flooding and landslides through Wednesday.Heavy rain was forecast on Monday across Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, as well as Shanghai.Local governments urged people to avoid outdoor activities as a precaution. Several major tourist attractions remained closed, including parts of Disneyland and Legoland, along with a number of viewing platforms on Shanghai’s Bund waterfront.