Typhoon Bebinca Slams Shanghai, China, Sparking Evacuation of More Than 400,000 People

Typhoon Bebinca, the most powerful typhoon to hit Shanghai since at least 1949, wreaked havoc across the city on Monday.

Shanghai Braces for the Strongest Typhoon Since 1949

The storm brought torrential rain, flooding, and intense winds that reached speeds of 94 mph. With more than 414,000 people evacuated ahead of the storm’s landfall, the city’s residents were urged to stay indoors as the powerful typhoon tore through the region.

Schools were closed, and transportation systems were severely disrupted. Flights, ferries, and trains were suspended in Shanghai and surrounding provinces as a safety precaution, particularly during the three-day Mid-Autumn Festival when travel is typically heavy. Hundreds of flights were canceled, and Shanghai’s airports did not resume service until Monday afternoon as the storm weakened and moved away from the city.

Damage and Injuries Across the City

Typhoon Bebinca made landfall in the Pudong business district early Monday morning, causing widespread damage throughout Shanghai. Flooded roads, uprooted trees, and debris littered the streets, creating hazardous conditions. More than 10,000 trees were damaged or uprooted by the storm, according to authorities, while at least 380 homes lost power. Four houses sustained significant structural damage, and over 132 acres of farmland were submerged. In one incident, an elderly man on Chongming Island was injured by a falling tree. He was quickly taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Despite this and other damage, authorities were able to deploy over 60,000 emergency responders and firefighters to provide aid and restore some order as the storm subsided. Responders worked tirelessly to clear debris and assist affected residents.

Regional Impact and Typhoon Bebinca’s Aftermath

As Typhoon Bebinca moved inland, it weakened but continued to affect the surrounding provinces of Jiangsu, Anhui, and Zhejiang with heavy rain and wind. Between Monday and Wednesday, parts of these regions and Shanghai were expected to receive up to 12 inches of rainfall, further contributing to potential flooding. Typhoon Bebinca is one of several powerful storms that have hit Asia in recent weeks. Earlier in the month, Typhoon Yagi caused severe destruction across Southeast Asia, resulting in over 230 deaths in Vietnam alone. Myanmar, Thailand, and the Philippines also reported significant casualties and widespread damage due to the storm.

The increasing intensity of storms like Bebinca is being attributed to climate change, according to climatologists. Rising ocean temperatures are providing more energy to fuel these typhoons, making them stronger and less predictable. While Shanghai has rarely experienced such severe storms, Bebinca is a stark reminder of the growing threat posed by extreme weather events globally. As recovery efforts continue in Shanghai and the surrounding provinces, residents and authorities remain on high alert for future storms, particularly as climate change continues to alter the nature and strength of weather patterns in the region.