Shanghai Braces for Impact: Typhoon Bebinca Hits with Historic Force

Shanghai, China’s financial hub, has been hit by the most powerful typhoon to strike the city in 75 years. Typhoon Bebinca made landfall near Lingang New City on Monday morning, battering the metropolis with wind speeds reaching up to 151 km/h (94 mph) and heavy rainfall. This intense storm, classified as a red alert—the highest level—has led to widespread disruption and emergency measures across the region.

The China Meteorological Administration confirmed that Bebinca struck Shanghai at approximately 07:30 local time (23:30 GMT) on Monday, marking the city’s most formidable typhoon in over seven decades. The city, known for its bustling streets and towering skyscrapers, has come to a standstill as authorities scramble to manage the unprecedented storm.

In anticipation of the typhoon’s arrival, local officials evacuated over 400,000 residents from the Shanghai Metropolitan area by Sunday evening. An additional 9,000 people were relocated from the Chongming District, an island located at the mouth of the Yangtze River. This mass evacuation was a precautionary measure to ensure public safety as Bebinca approached.

The storm has wreaked havoc on transportation in and around Shanghai. Both of the city’s major airports have grounded all flights, resulting in hundreds of cancellations. Train services have also been suspended, and major highways have been closed to prevent accidents and facilitate emergency responses. Within the city, a 40 km/h (25 mph) speed limit has been imposed on roads to curb the risk of vehicular accidents in the hazardous conditions.

As the storm progresses, Shanghai’s 25 million residents have been advised to remain indoors. The high winds and torrential rain have led to significant damage across the city. Videos circulating on social media depict toppled trees, flooded streets, and structural damage. One dramatic clip shared by Shanghai Daily shows a bus skidding to a halt as billboards, dislodged by the fierce winds, crash to the ground on Huaihai Road—a major shopping thoroughfare.

The situation has sparked widespread concern on Chinese social media platform Weibo, where users have shared their anxieties about the storm’s potential impact. One user described the scene as something “you’d only see on television,” posting a video of violently swaying trees in a car park. Another advised fellow residents to secure their homes and avoid unnecessary travel during the storm.

Typhoon Bebinca is a rare occurrence for Shanghai, as most strong typhoons typically make landfall further south in China. The city’s flood control headquarters have reported numerous incidents related to the typhoon, predominantly involving fallen trees and billboards. In response, local authorities have temporarily closed several resorts, including the Shanghai Disney Resort, Jinjiang Amusement Park, and Shanghai Wild Animal Park. Additionally, many ferry services have been suspended to ensure safety.

The storm’s destructive path extends beyond Shanghai. Typhoon Bebinca has already caused severe damage in the central and southern Philippines, where falling trees resulted in six fatalities. The storm also passed through Japan and caused extensive flooding in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam and Myanmar, where it claimed hundreds of lives and left many injured.

Looking ahead, Typhoon Bebinca is expected to move northwest, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui provinces. The impact of this historic storm will continue to unfold as it advances, with authorities and residents bracing for further challenges in the coming days.