Strongest typhoon in 75 years hits Shanghai, China

Typhoon Bebinca made landfall off the coast of Shanghai, China’s major economic hub, on Monday morning, prompting a state of alert across the region. According to state media, it is the most severe storm to hit the city since 1949.

As the storm approached, local authorities took precautionary measures, closing highways, canceling all flights at the city’s two airports and ordering the evacuation of densely populated coastal areas. Typhoon Bebinca hit the city at around 7:30 a.m. local time, bringing strong winds and heavy rain.

The maximum wind speed near the center was 42 meters per second. [151km/h] “When it arrived… it became the strongest typhoon to hit Shanghai since 1949,” China’s CCTV network said.

The storm hit precisely during the Mid-Autumn Festival, an important celebration in the Chinese calendar. As a result, traffic was already high, with some 74 million passengers expected to use the trains during the period, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency.

Facing the risk of flooding, the Ministry of Water Resources on Saturday issued the highest level of emergency in Shanghai and other provinces in the eastern region, including Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui. The Ministry of Disaster Management also highlighted the need for more attention due to the large influx of people.

The previous day, the China Meteorological Administration issued a second-level typhoon warning for several areas of Shanghai and nearby cities, advising residents to avoid crowds and reinforce structures against strong winds.

Municipal authorities have warned residents to take precautions, especially in high-altitude areas and with regard to transportation and infrastructure. All passenger sea crossings have been suspended since Sunday, according to a statement from the Shanghai Port.

Before reaching China, Bebinca passed by Japan’s Amami Island in the south of the archipelago, with winds reaching speeds of 198 kilometers per hour. In Japan, authorities warned of the risk of landslides caused by heavy rains.

The Philippines was also hit on Friday by Typhoon Bebinca, still a tropical storm, which killed six people due to falling trees. Rescue teams worked to evacuate residents from flooded areas. (*With information from O Globo newspaper)