Shanghai’s two airports cancelled more than 1,300 flights on Sunday as China stepped up preparations for Typhoon Dolphin, which brought heavy rain to northern Taiwan and threatened to cause flooding and landslides along China’s eastern coast.The storm’s outer bands hit northern Taiwan, including the capital Taipei, on Saturday. Some Taiwanese airlines also cancelled flights to China on Sunday.Typhoon Dolphin had maximum sustained winds of about 162 kmph as of Sunday morning. The storm is expected to hit Zhejiang province and northern parts of neighbouring Fujian province later on Sunday, AP reported.Chinese forecasters warned that some areas could receive 200-400 mm of rain over the next few days, raising the risk of severe flooding and landslides, particularly in Zhejiang.Shanghai’s Hongqiao and Pudong airports cancelled about 60% of their scheduled flights for Sunday, according to Shanghai state media outlet The Paper. Together, the two airports cancelled more than 1,300 flights.Authorities have also begun evacuating residents from areas considered vulnerable to the storm. In Zhejiang’s Taizhou city, around 390,000 people were evacuated on Saturday evening, while more than 30,000 people were moved from high-risk areas in Shanghai.Zhejiang authorities also suspended water-based activities, including ferry services and cruises, as the storm approached.The typhoon is expected to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds to parts of eastern China, with authorities warning residents to remain alert to the risks of flooding and landslides.
