East China province raises alert as Typhoon Dolphin nears coast

HANGZHOU, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in east China's Zhejiang Province upgraded emergency responses for Typhoon Dolphin from Level IV to Level III at noon on Friday, as the 13th typhoon of 2026 approaches the country's eastern coast.

The typhoon was positioned about 763 kilometers east of Wenling, Zhejiang, at 8 a.m. Friday, according to the Zhejiang Meteorological Observatory.

It was forecast to move westward at 15 to 20 kilometers per hour, with its strength expected to remain largely unchanged or pick up slightly.

China's National Meteorological Center issued a yellow alert on Thursday evening, forecasting Typhoon Dolphin to make landfall along China's eastern coast between Shanghai and Fuqing in Fujian Province on Sunday or Monday, with an intensity ranging from typhoon to severe typhoon level, bringing heavy rain to areas north of the landfall site.

Lou Xiaofen, chief forecaster at the Zhejiang Meteorological Observatory, said the typhoon stands a high chance of making direct landfall in Zhejiang, which is located between Shanghai and Fujian, creating substantial disaster risks across the region.

By 8 a.m. Friday, Zhejiang had suspended services on all 162 passenger ferry routes, halted work at all 193 offshore projects, and called 474 construction vessels to port.

The provincial maritime authorities have issued 86,000 early warning messages and inspected 24,000 vessels. High-powered tugboats are now on standby for emergency rescue operations.

Under the Level III typhoon response plans, local authorities are required to closely monitor the typhoon's development, issue early warnings and forecasts, evacuate people for safety, and provide public guidance to effectively protect the safety of people's lives and property.