China: China is preparing for Typhoon Dolphin as the storm approaches the country's eastern coast, with more than 1,600 flights cancelled and around 500,000 people evacuated ahead of its expected landfall.

China's National Meteorological Center (NMC) issued a red typhoon alert, its highest-level warning, on Sunday morning.

Authorities are preparing for possible floods and landslides as the typhoon is expected to bring intense rainfall and powerful winds to densely populated areas along China's eastern coast.

Shanghai Cancels Nearly 1,400 Flights

Shanghai's Hongqiao and Pudong airports cancelled nearly 1,400 flights on Sunday, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

In neighbouring Zhejiang province, airlines cancelled another 270 inbound and outbound flights at Hangzhou Airport.

Authorities in Zhejiang evacuated around 390,000 people in Taizhou on Saturday evening, while Shanghai relocated more than 30,000 people from areas considered at greater risk.

In Fujian province, approximately 99,000 people had also been moved from risky areas by Saturday evening, according to China's state news agency Xinhua.

More than 200 ferry routes in Zhejiang and Fujian were suspended as the storm approached.

Heavy Rain and Winds of Up to 162 km/h

The NMC has forecast exceptionally heavy rainfall in parts of central and eastern Zhejiang, with some areas expected to receive 250mm to 500mm of rain.

Torrential rain is also expected through Monday across Shanghai, northern Fujian, northeastern Jiangxi, central and southern Anhui and much of Jiangsu.

Typhoon Dolphin is expected to reach China overnight on Sunday and into Monday, with sustained winds of up to 162 km/h (101 mph). The storm is then expected to weaken as it moves inland.

Taiwan and Japan Also Affected

The outer bands of Typhoon Dolphin had reached northern Taiwan, including Taipei, by Sunday.

More than 180 flights were cancelled on the island, while dozens of ferry services were suspended as heavy rain and strong winds affected northern Taiwan.

The storm also moved through Japan's southern Okinawa prefecture over the weekend. Seven people were injured, while power was cut to more than 50,000 buildings.

By Sunday afternoon, electricity had been disrupted for 5,290 households in Okinawa, according to the Okinawa Electric Power Company.