Shanghai Hit by Strongest Storm in Seven Decades
Shanghai recently faced a significant challenge as Typhoon Bebinca struck the city, marking the most powerful storm to hit the area in more than 70 years. This typhoon not only disrupted daily life but also caused a standstill during one of the country’s major holidays, the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Typhoon Bebinca Hits Shanghai with Full Force
Typhoon Bebinca made landfall early Monday morning in an industrial area southeast of Shanghai. The storm packed wind speeds of 130 kilometers per hour (80 mph), and near its eye, gusts reached 151 kph (94 mph). These winds classify it as the most powerful storm to hit the city since 1949, earning it the highest level of warning from meteorologists.
Disruption to Holiday Travel Plans
The timing of the storm couldn’t have been worse, as it coincided with the Mid-Autumn Festival, a three-day national holiday celebrated across China. Flights at both of Shanghai’s international airports were canceled starting Sunday evening, and ferry services, some train lines, ports, bridges, and highways were all closed on Monday. This brought travel plans to a halt for thousands of holidaymakers.
Shanghai Disney Resort, a major tourist attraction, was also forced to close its doors. Videos surfaced showing staff taping trash bins to fences in an attempt to secure items against the fierce winds.
Evacuations and Safety Measures
The local government moved quickly to ensure the safety of residents, with more than 414,000 people evacuated to safer areas by midnight on Monday. Public facilities like exhibition centers and school gyms were turned into temporary shelters. Neighboring provinces like Zhejiang and Jiangsu also adopted similar safety measures.
Across the region, over 1,600 flights were canceled, creating widespread travel disruption for those both arriving and departing from the area.
Power Outages and Stockpiling Supplies
As the typhoon approached, many residents in Shanghai reported power and water outages on Monday morning. Concerned about potential shortages, people rushed to stock up on food and supplies over the weekend, preparing for the storm’s aftermath.
What’s Next for Typhoon Bebinca?
Fortunately, Typhoon Bebinca is expected to weaken into a tropical storm as it moves further inland. While its initial impact on Shanghai was severe, the storm is losing strength, offering hope for a quick recovery.
Shanghai’s Rare Encounter with Typhoons
Shanghai is not typically in the direct path of typhoons, as they often make landfall further south in China. Prior to Bebinca, the city had only been hit by two major typhoons – one in 1949 and another in 2022. However, scientists suggest that the intensifying climate crisis, leading to warmer oceans, could be contributing to the rapid strengthening of such storms.
The Bigger Picture: A Season of Intense Storms
This month alone, China has already faced another powerful storm. Super Typhoon Yagi, which struck earlier in September, was one of the most severe tropical cyclones this year. Yagi caused widespread devastation across Southeast Asia and claimed four lives in China’s southern province of Hainan.
As climate patterns shift, regions like Shanghai may find themselves increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events. While the city has weathered Bebinca, the storm serves as a reminder of the growing threats posed by nature.