Typhoon Dolphin, red alert in China: almost 1’400 flights cancelled in Shanghai

China’s eastern coast is bracing for the arrival of Typhoon Dolphin. The national meteorological centre has issued a red typhoon alert, the highest level on its warning scale, and the authorities have ordered evacuations in areas exposed to the storm’s path. Along its route, the typhoon has already left people injured and caused power cuts in Japan, as well as heavy disruption to air and sea transport in Taiwan and mainland China.

According to forecasts, Dolphin should make landfall between late evening today, 9 August, and the early hours of tomorrow. It is expected to come ashore in Zhejiang province or in the neighbouring province of Fujian, and for now the exact point of impact cannot be determined. The greatest concern is focused on Zhejiang: forecasters predict extraordinary torrential rain in the central and eastern parts of the province.

The impact on air traffic is already severe. According to broadcaster CCTV, almost 1’400 flights in and out of Shanghai’s two main passenger airports were cancelled this morning alone.

The damage in Okinawa and Taiwan

In recent days the storm battered Japan’s Okinawa archipelago with intense rain and violent winds. Seven people suffered minor injuries. Among them is a man aged over one hundred: knocked over by the gusts, he fell and injured his head.

The bad weather also put the archipelago’s power grid under strain. As of this afternoon, 5’290 families were still without electricity.

Taiwan has been affected too: heavy rain and gusting winds forced the authorities to suspend dozens of ferry services, and more than 180 flights were cancelled on the island.

In the coming hours attention will therefore shift to the Chinese mainland, awaiting the typhoon’s arrival with its load of rain and wind.