Shanghai and its densely populated coastal areas are reeling from the impact of Typhoon Bebinca, the strongest storm to directly hit the city since 1949. With winds reaching speeds of up to 151 kilometers per hour (94 miles per hour), Bebinca made landfall early Monday, leaving a trail of damage and disruption. Around 414,000 residents have been evacuated, with many seeking shelter in school gyms and exhibition centers. Chongming District, at the mouth of the Yangtze River, saw an additional 9,000 residents displaced.
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Authorities had issued a red alert, the highest warning level, for the storm, advising Shanghai’s 25 million residents to remain indoors. Public safety measures were put in place, including grounding all flights at the city’s two airports, halting ferry services, and shutting down major tourist attractions like Shanghai Disney Resort.
Impact on Infrastructure and Services
The typhoon hit during China’s three-day Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, forcing businesses to close and grounding transport systems. Hundreds of flights were canceled at Shanghai’s international airports, while train services and highways faced widespread closures. Some ferry routes were suspended, and a speed limit of 40 kilometers per hour (25 miles per hour) was imposed on roads within the city.
Videos circulating on Chinese social media showed scenes of destruction, with uprooted trees, flooding, and damaged billboards. One video captured a bus braking suddenly as fierce winds brought down signs along Huaihai Road, a major shopping area. Authorities received numerous reports of fallen trees and other storm-related incidents.
Mid-Autumn Festival Disruptions and Social Media Reactions
The storm arrived during the national Mid-Autumn Festival, a time when many people travel and celebrate with family. The timing of Typhoon Bebinca added to the anxiety, as many Shanghai residents shared their fears and experiences on platforms like Weibo. Some residents posted videos of trees swaying violently and roads flooded with water, while others urged people to secure their homes and avoid unnecessary outings.
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Bebinca follows Typhoon Yagi, which wreaked havoc in southern China earlier this month. Yagi, a Category 4 storm, killed four people in Hainan Province and caused severe flooding in Southeast Asia. The rapid succession of storms underscores concerns about the intensification of tropical cyclones due to climate change. Scientists warn that warmer ocean temperatures are fueling the frequency and strength of these storms.