China evacuated more than 1 million people from the east of the country, including the financial hub Shanghai, as a major storm made landfall.
Typhoon Dolphin, the strongest storm to hit China this year, brought torrential rain and flooding as well as 94 mph winds.
Higher sea levels due to climate change have increased Shanghai’s vulnerability to storms, although the city has impressive defenses.
The economic impacts of extreme weather events worldwide have increased over recent years, mainly because of the growth of valuable real estate in vulnerable areas. But the number of deaths has fallen thanks to improved forecasting, early-warning systems, and building codes.