Typhoon Bebinca made landfall in Shanghai on Monday morning as the strongest storm to hit the city since 1949. The Category 1 typhoon brought winds of up to 151 km/h (94 mph), causing widespread disruptions to travel, businesses, and daily life in the financial hub of 25 million people.
Shanghai Battered By Typhoon Bebinca
🚨🇨🇳 | TYPOON BEBINCA HITS SHANGHAI, CHINA
– Strongest typhoon to hit #Shanghai since 1949
– Gusts reach 30-43.5 m/s in eastern Shanghai
– Center of typhoon located in the city#Bebinca | #Typhoonbebcina | #China@Weathermonitors pic.twitter.com/kpBTOCvew4— sustainme.in®️ (@sustainme_in) September 16, 2024
The storm landed at 7:30 a.m. local time in the Pudong business district, marking the most powerful typhoon to strike the city in over seven decades. Shanghai, which rarely faces storms of this magnitude, has not seen such intense weather since Typhoon Gloria in 1949.
With heavy rain and dangerous winds sweeping across the region, authorities moved quickly to implement emergency measures. Popular tourist attractions like Shanghai Disney Resort, Jinjiang Amusement Park, and Shanghai Wild Animal Park have been temporarily closed. Ferries, train services, and highways have also been suspended as safety becomes the top priority.
The typhoon has led to mass evacuations across Shanghai and nearby areas. More than 40,000 people have been relocated from high-risk areas to safer locations. Authorities in neighbouring provinces like Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Anhui have issued warnings as they brace for the storm’s impact.
Hundreds Of Flights Cancelled
Typhoon Bebinca is right here in Shanghai. Look at the apartments built within 10 years. #Crazy China Real Estate # pic.twitter.com/97zvNb8a3v
— Zhang3 (@Helena3Zhang) September 16, 2024
Flights have been severely disrupted, with hundreds of cancellations at Shanghai’s airports starting on Sunday. In Hangzhou, around 170 km (106 miles) southwest of Shanghai, more than 180 flights were cancelled in anticipation of the storm. Local officials have urged people to remain at home and avoid unnecessary travel.
Typhoon Bebinca has struck during the Mid-Autumn Festival, a time when millions of people typically travel across the country to reunite with family. This year, the storm has thrown holiday plans into disarray. The national railway operator had projected that 74 million people would travel by train during the holiday period. However, with train services suspended and flights cancelled, many travellers are now stranded.
The timing of the typhoon could also have economic consequences. The Mid-Autumn Festival is a key time for spending, with people travelling, dining out, and shopping for gifts. With so many disruptions to travel and business closures, the usual boost to the economy may be significantly reduced.
Bebinca’s arrival comes just days after Typhoon Yagi, which hit Southeast Asia and parts of China, causing widespread devastation. Yagi left over 230 dead in Vietnam, with Myanmar, Thailand, and the Philippines also reporting casualties.
Cover Image Courtesy:@Helena3Zhang,@Weathermonitors/X (Formerly, Twitter)
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