Kathmandu— Coastal regions in eastern China are preparing for torrential rain and destructive winds as Typhoon Dolphin moves toward the coast, prompting officials to suspend ferry services, recall fishing fleets, and initiate large-scale evacuations. The storm, which was located approximately 440 kilometers southeast of Wenzhou on Saturday, is expected to make landfall between Zhoushan in Zhejiang Province and Fuding in Fujian Province between Sunday night and Monday morning.

Emergency Responses Escalated

China’s meteorological authority upgraded the emergency response for Dolphin to Level III on Saturday, raising the typhoon warning from yellow to orange. In Zhejiang Province, the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters raised its emergency response to Level I, the highest possible tier.

The Ministry of Water Resources and the China Meteorological Administration issued a red alert for flash floods affecting 23 contiguous counties, cities, and districts in Zhejiang. Consequently, the province’s flooding emergency response was upgraded from Level IV to Level III.

Regional Impact and Evacuations

The storm has already begun impacting parts of Zhejiang, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to Ningbo, Taizhou, Wenzhou, and Lishui, according to Jia Yan, chief forecaster at the Zhejiang Meteorological Observatory. To mitigate risks, more than 4,000 local monitors have been deployed to inspect over 7,500 areas vulnerable to landslides and geological disasters.

In Fujian Province, authorities had relocated 98,900 people from high-risk areas by Saturday evening. The coastal city of Fuding reported that all 1,210 registered fishing boats had returned to port, while 55 passenger ferry routes were suspended.

Disruptions in Shanghai and Yangtze Delta

Shanghai has issued a blue typhoon alert, with forecasters warning that the storm could bring heavy rain and strong winds to the city for up to four days. The city has already evacuated 30,300 residents from risky areas, and officials expect more evacuations on Sunday. Additionally, over 20 scenic sites in Shanghai have been temporarily closed.

Air travel is expected to face significant disruption, with Shanghai Airport (Group) Co., Ltd. announcing that nearly 60 percent of all flights at the city’s two airports—totaling 1,384 inbound and outbound flights—are planned for cancellation on Sunday. Some train services in the Yangtze River Delta are also scheduled for suspension starting Sunday.

Storm Intensity and Forecast

Typhoon Dolphin is moving northwestward at a speed of 10 to 15 kilometers per hour, packing winds of up to 45 meters per second near its center.

Comparing the current storm to previous weather events, Xu Yinglong, chief forecaster at the National Meteorological Center, noted that Typhoon Dolphin may bring stronger winds and heavier rainfall than Typhoon Bavi, which made landfall in the country in July.

Authorities remain on high alert as the storm approaches the coastline, with further evacuations and service suspensions expected through Monday.

(With inputs from Xinhua)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.