Flight disruption, flooded neighbourhoods and large-scale evacuations followed the arrival of Tropical Storm Dolphin in eastern China, as authorities continued emergency operations across several provinces. While this event does not fall under core EU news coverage, it is a significant international development with implications for global aviation, supply chains and travellers using major Asia-Europe routes.
Chinese authorities said the storm made landfall near Taizhou in Zhejiang province on Sunday evening after strengthening to typhoon force. It later weakened, but not before bringing heavy rain, transport disruption and flood risks across parts of eastern China, including Shanghai.
Flight cancellations mount as airports struggle with storm disruption
According to Shanghai Airport Group, more than 900 flights were cancelled at Shanghai Hongqiao and Pudong airports on Monday, on top of roughly 1,300 cancellations the previous day. That means a substantial share of scheduled traffic was wiped out over two days at one of Asia’s busiest air hubs.
The disruption matters beyond China because Shanghai is a major gateway for international business travel and cargo. Delays and cancellations on these routes can ripple into wider aviation networks, including long-haul services used by passengers connecting to and from Europe.
- More than 900 flights cancelled on Monday
- About 1,300 flights cancelled the day before
- Some Shanghai metro services were suspended
- More than 100 train services were also halted
Flood warnings and evacuations across eastern China
Emergency authorities warned of severe flooding and landslide risks as rain bands moved inland. State media reported searches for residents trapped in flooded homes in Yueqing, in Zhejiang province, while local governments ordered precautionary evacuations in several high-risk areas.
Official figures indicated that at least 760,000 people were moved before the storm’s worst impacts were felt. That included hundreds of thousands in and around Taizhou, as well as large evacuations in Shanghai and Fujian province.
The scale of those relocations underlines how seriously Chinese authorities viewed the flood threat even after the storm began to weaken. Public facilities and tourist landmarks were also temporarily shut as a safety measure, including scenic sites in Hangzhou.
Wider regional impact reaches the Philippines and Japan
The effects of Dolphin were not limited to mainland China. In the Philippines, the storm intensified seasonal monsoon rains, contributing to flooding and landslides in northern Luzon. Local officials reported fatalities after a landslide hit homes in Baguio, while national disaster authorities said more than one million people had been affected by days of severe weather.
Meanwhile, Japanese weather officials were monitoring Tropical Storm Chan-hom as it moved towards the Pacific coast. Forecasts suggested it could strengthen slightly before landfall, raising the risk of further transport disruption in the region.
Why this matters internationally
Although not a European institutional story, developments like this can still matter to readers following Europe news and global transport trends:
- Shanghai is a major aviation and cargo hub linked to European routes
- Severe weather can disrupt supply chains used by European businesses
- Flight cancellations may affect travellers with onward connections
- Regional storms can influence shipping, insurance and commodity flows
What happens next
China’s meteorological authorities said Dolphin was moving northwest and weakening, but emergency monitoring remained in place because floodwaters, saturated ground and landslide risks can persist after a storm’s peak has passed. Transport services are expected to resume gradually as conditions improve and safety inspections are completed.
For readers tracking major international disruptions alongside EU news, the key takeaway is that Dolphin has already had a serious impact on transport and public safety across East Asia, even as the storm itself loses strength.
