Kathmandu— Tropical Storm Dolphin swept through eastern China late Sunday and Monday, unleashing torrential rain, strong winds, and prompting the evacuation of over one million residents across multiple provinces. The storm initially hit Yuhuan in Zhejiang province as a typhoon with sustained winds reaching 151 kilometers per hour (94 mph), triggering China’s highest weather alert before weakening as it moved inland. Authorities are now bracing for continued heavy rainfall and potential flooding in central and northern regions, including the capital Beijing.

Storm's Impact on Transportation

Shanghai’s two airports cancelled 943 flights—nearly 40 percent of their capacity—due to the typhoon, significantly disrupting travel plans. The storm also caused widespread disruption to ground transportation networks across eastern China. State broadcaster CCTV reported that authorities urged residents to work from home and avoid unnecessary outdoor activity.

Widespread Evacuations and Search Efforts

More than 900,000 residents were relocated in Wenzhou city alone, with nearly 100,000 evacuated from Shanghai and an additional 99,000 from neighboring Fujian province. Emergency services are currently searching for a nine-year-old boy swept into the sea during the storm in Wenling, Zhejiang province, according to local media reports.

Forecasted Path and Continued Rainfall

The National Meteorological Center (NMC) had activated its highest level typhoon warning as Dolphin approached. While downgraded to a tropical storm, forecasters predict Dolphin will move deeper inland, impacting the central provinces of Hubei and Henan in the coming days. Torrential rain is expected through August 10 across several eastern provinces including Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Shandong. Parts of Zhejiang could receive between 250-500mm (9.8-19.7 inches) of rainfall.

Beijing Prepares for Heavy Rain

Authorities in Beijing have raised warnings for torrential rain and are preparing to activate the city’s flood control response on Tuesday morning. The capital is expected to experience “significant rainfall” from Tuesday through Thursday, with concerns about potential flash floods within the city and landslides in surrounding mountainous areas.

The storm continues to move inland, and authorities remain vigilant for further flooding and related hazards across affected regions.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.