Typhoon Dolphin downpour threatens Henan harvest

China has activated a national Level IV emergency response for the grain-producing heartland of Henan province as the remnants of Typhoon Dolphin threatened to impact the autumn harvest, national disaster authorities said on Friday.

In the face of heavy rain, the national commission for disaster prevention, reduction and relief and the Ministry of Emergency Management rolled out China's lowest tier national emergency alert to coordinate relief operations across the province in the center of the country.

The National Development and Reform Commission, China's top economic planner, has earmarked 30 million yuan ($4.45 million) from the central budget for post-storm recovery in Henan.

In an effort to protect livelihoods and economic activity, funding will cover urgent repairs to damaged roads, water utilities and core infrastructure, alongside the restoration of schools and hospitals.

Henan is one of China's most important grain-growing regions, and the extreme rainfall comes immediately before its autumn grain harvest, presenting risks to crops and output.

Typhoon Dolphin came ashore in eastern Zhejiang province on Sunday. It then tracked west, weakened into a tropical depression, and dissipated over Central China's Hubei province on Tuesday.

Though the cyclone lost strength, its leftover weather system drove destructive inland downpours that hit Henan.