Typhoon Dolphin made landfall on China's eastern coast on Aug. 9, 2024, forcing the evacuation of more than 1 million people [1].
The scale of the displacement and the activation of high-level emergency protocols highlight the vulnerability of China's coastal industrial hubs to extreme weather events.
The storm primarily impacted Zhejiang Province, where authorities activated a Level-5 national disaster-relief response [4]. Reports indicate the system may have made two separate landfalls within the province [3], though other reports describe a single landfall on the eastern coast [1].
Heavy rainfall and strong winds triggered widespread flooding and landslide warnings across the region. The impact extended beyond Zhejiang, with significant weather disruptions reported in Shanghai and Jiangsu Province [1].
Transportation networks faced severe interruptions as the storm progressed. Hundreds of flights were grounded to ensure passenger safety [2].
Emergency responders focused on mitigating the damage to infrastructure and crops, which were heavily affected by the torrential rain [1]. Local officials coordinated the movement of the population to avoid casualties from the rising waters and unstable terrain.
While the immediate landfall occurred on Sunday, the aftermath continues to challenge local recovery teams. The combination of flooding and landslides has created a complex environment for rescue operations and infrastructure repair [1].
“Over 1 million people evacuated”
The activation of a Level-5 response indicates that the Chinese government viewed Typhoon Dolphin as a critical threat to national stability and economic activity. By focusing evacuations in Zhejiang, Shanghai, and Jiangsu, authorities targeted some of the most densely populated and economically productive regions of the country, where flooding can cause billions in infrastructure damage and disrupt global supply chains.
