Kathmandu— Heavy rainfall and strong winds from Typhoon Dolphin triggered flood alerts and over 1,000 flight cancellations across China on Monday, despite the storm weakening after making landfall in Zhejiang Province on Sunday. Authorities preemptively relocated over 300,000 people in eastern China and advised approximately one million to seek shelter as parts of the country face risks of landslides and flooding. While Dolphin has lost power, the National Meteorological Centre (NMC) warns that heavy rainfall will continue to impact east and central China.

Widespread Disruptions To Transportation

Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport and Hongqiao International Airport canceled 943 flights on Monday, representing a nearly 40% reduction in capacity. This followed the cancellation of approximately 1,500 flights – about 60% of scheduled travel – at the two airports on Sunday. Local train services within Shanghai were also suspended due to the storm’s impact.

Flash Flood Alerts Issued

The NMC issued its least severe typhoon alert Monday morning as Dolphin weakened, but simultaneously released a top-level flash flood warning for parts of eastern and southern Zhejiang province. Five districts in Beijing are under red alerts for heavy rainfall, raising concerns about landslides and flooding. Authorities in Shanghai evacuated over 30,000 people from high-risk areas.

Recent Storms Highlight Increasing Risk

Typhoon Dolphin comes just two weeks after Typhoon Noul impacted southern Guangdong province, and follows a pattern of extreme weather events that caused eleven deaths and over 300 injuries in central Hubei province last month due to Typhoon Maysak. Experts note that China frequently experiences typhoons during this time of year, resulting in displacement, infrastructure damage, and loss of life. Scientists also warn that the intensity and frequency of these extreme weather systems are increasing with climate change.

Zhejiang's Ningbo International Airport is set to resume flights midday Monday, though delays and cancellations remain possible as the storm continues to dissipate.

(With inputs from DW)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.