When Typhoon Dolphin crashed into China's eastern seaboard on Sunday evening, it didn't just bring wind and rain—it upended travel for hundreds of thousands and forced a massive coastal evacuation. The storm's arrival marked the latest in a series of weather extremes across the region, with authorities scrambling to protect lives and property. Main Developments Landfall occurred near Taizhou in Zhejiang province, with winds estimated at 151 km/h (93 mph). The storm also grazed northern Fujian, where residents braced for the brunt of its fury. Forecasters predicted 200–400 mm (7.9–15.7 inches) of rain in parts of Zhejiang over the coming days, raising alarms about potential flooding and landslides. Pre-emptive measures were swift: roughly 390,000 people were evacuated from Taizhou alone, while more than 30,000 left vulnerable areas in Shanghai. In the financial hub, Hongqiao and Pudong airports cancelled about 60 percent of scheduled flights—over 1,300 in total—stranding travelers and disrupting regional connectivity. Ferries and cruises in Zhejiang were also suspended as seas turned treacherous. Read also: Ukraine's Boldest Drone Strike Yet: 13 Dead in Tatarstan Background Before reaching China, Dolphin's outer bands drenched northern Taiwan, including Taipei, on Saturday, leading some airlines to cancel cross-strait services. The typhoon also intensified seasonal monsoon rains in the Philippines, triggering flooding and landslides across northern Luzon. In Baguio, a landslide struck three houses, prompting a rescue operation that saved five people; seven others remain missing, according to officials. This storm follows a pattern of extreme weather events in the region, including record heat waves in Western Europe and severe storms elsewhere, highlighting the growing volatility of global weather systems. Why It Matters The scale of evacuations and flight cancellations underscores the immense threat typhoons pose to one of China's most densely populated and economically vital regions. Zhejiang and Shanghai are hubs for manufacturing, finance, and trade; even a short disruption can ripple through supply chains. The heavy rain forecast raises the specter of deadly landslides, a recurring hazard in the mountainous terrain of eastern China. For the Philippines, the storm's interaction with monsoon rains has already proven deadly, with rescue teams still searching for the missing. The human toll and economic damage from such storms are a stark reminder of the region's vulnerability to natural disasters. What's Next As Dolphin moves inland, forecasters will monitor rainfall and potential landslides in Zhejiang and Fujian. Authorities are likely to maintain evacuation orders until the storm weakens. In the Philippines, search and rescue efforts for the seven missing in Baguio continue, with officials assessing the full extent of the damage. The storm's aftermath will test the resilience of local infrastructure and emergency response systems.