BTN News: Typhoon Bebinca, the most powerful storm to hit Shanghai in over 70 years, slammed into the city on the morning of September 16, 2024. With sustained winds reaching up to 151 km/h (94 mph), the storm wreaked havoc across Shanghai’s financial district and surrounding areas. As a result, more than 414,000 people were evacuated, streets were flooded, trees were uprooted, and widespread transportation disruptions occurred during the Mid-Autumn Festival. This catastrophic event marks one of the strongest typhoons ever recorded in Shanghai’s history, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Mass Evacuations as Typhoon Bebinca Hits Shanghai
Over 414,000 residents were evacuated ahead of the storm’s arrival as authorities braced for the worst. Schools were closed, and residents were urged to remain indoors as Typhoon Bebinca unleashed heavy rainfall and powerful winds. The storm made landfall in the Pudong financial district at around 7:30 AM, immediately causing widespread damage.
With wind speeds reaching 151 km/h near its center, Bebinca toppled trees, flooded streets, and damaged buildings. Emergency services were quickly mobilized, with more than 60,000 firefighters and workers on standby to assist in the aftermath.
Severe Flooding and Power Outages: City Faces Major Disruptions
The torrential rains brought by Bebinca led to severe flooding in parts of Shanghai. Streets in the Pudong district were submerged, and fallen trees and debris littered the sidewalks. The wind damage was extensive, with more than 10,000 trees uprooted and 380 homes left without electricity.
Local officials reported that at least one elderly man was injured after being struck by a falling tree on Chongming Island. Fortunately, the man was quickly taken to a hospital for treatment, though his condition remains unknown.
While power outages affected hundreds of homes, four houses suffered significant structural damage. Agricultural land also took a major hit, with 53 hectares (132 acres) of farmland flooded due to the storm.
Travel Chaos: Flights and Trains Canceled Across Shanghai
Bebinca’s impact extended far beyond just the flooding and wind damage—it severely disrupted transportation across Shanghai and neighboring provinces. In the lead-up to the storm, over 1,400 flights were canceled from the city’s airports, and ferries and trains were suspended. In Hangzhou, located about 170 kilometers (106 miles) southwest of Shanghai, an additional 180 flights were called off.
These travel disruptions came during China’s Mid-Autumn Festival, a peak holiday travel period, causing significant inconvenience to millions of people.
Aftermath and Emergency Response: Cleanup Begins as Bebinca Weakens
After the typhoon passed through, emergency teams worked around the clock to clear roads, remove fallen trees, and restore power to affected areas. Firefighters and city workers focused on clearing debris to reopen main streets and repair damaged infrastructure.
As Bebinca weakened, it moved inland toward the neighboring provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Anhui. While no additional major damage was reported in these areas, the storm’s aftermath continued to affect daily life with heavy rains and local flooding expected to persist for several days.
Impact on Southeast Asia: Typhoon Yagi’s Destruction
Bebinca’s arrival in China follows the devastation caused by another typhoon, Yagi, which recently hit Southeast Asia. Yagi left a tragic path of destruction in its wake, with Myanmar recording at least 74 deaths and dozens of people missing. Vietnam reported over 230 deaths due to the storm’s flooding and landslides, while the Philippines, Thailand, and China’s Hainan Island also faced significant casualties.
A Rare Event for Shanghai: A City Unaccustomed to Powerful Typhoons
While typhoons are not uncommon in southern China, Shanghai rarely experiences storms of this magnitude. Most typhoons tend to make landfall farther south, making Bebinca’s direct hit on the city particularly significant. With a population of 25 million, Shanghai’s infrastructure was put to the test, and the city’s emergency response was crucial in mitigating further damage and casualties.
Meteorologists predict that the city could see up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) of rainfall between Monday and Wednesday, heightening the risk of further flooding in the region.
Conclusion
Typhoon Bebinca’s impact on Shanghai has been devastating, with severe flooding, power outages, and major travel disruptions affecting millions of people. As the city recovers from the strongest typhoon since 1949, emergency teams continue to work tirelessly to restore normalcy. With climate change making extreme weather events more frequent, Shanghai and other cities along China’s coast may need to prepare for an increase in future typhoon activity.
