Typhoon Bebinca made landfall near Shanghai early Monday, marking the strongest storm to hit the city in 75 years. The typhoon struck Lingang New City, located on Shanghai’s eastern coast, at around 07:30 local time (23:30 GMT). The China Meteorological Administration has issued a red alert, the highest level, as Bebinca brought wind speeds of up to 151 km/h (94 mph).
In anticipation of the storm’s impact, authorities evacuated more than 400,000 people from the Shanghai metropolitan area by Sunday evening. An additional 9,000 individuals were relocated from Chongming District, an island at the mouth of the Yangtze River. The city’s two major airports canceled hundreds of flights, while train services and highways were also closed. A 40 km/h (25 mph) speed limit was enforced on city roads, and residents were advised to stay indoors.
The storm has caused significant disruptions, with videos on social media showing toppled trees, flooded streets, and billboards collapsing onto roads. Shanghai Daily shared footage of a bus maneuvering around debris on Huaihai Road, a major shopping district.
Typhoon Bebinca’s impact extends beyond Shanghai, with the storm expected to weaken as it moves inland. It follows another severe typhoon, Yagi, which recently struck China’s southern Hainan island, causing deaths and injuries, and has already affected Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Myanmar.
Shanghai’s flood control headquarters reported numerous incidents, mostly involving fallen trees and billboards. Major resorts and ferries in the city have been temporarily closed. Typhoon Bebinca is forecasted to bring heavy rain and high winds to Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui provinces as it continues its path.
