Shanghai Hit by Strongest Typhoon Since 1949

Shanghai was hit on Monday by the most powerful typhoon since at least 1949.

Typhoon Bebinca flooded roads, uprooted trees, and left some residents without power.

Shanghai, home to 25 million people, is not typically in the path of typhoons, which tend to make landfall further south in China.

More than 414,000 people were evacuated as a precaution before the storm made landfall.

China typhoon
A firefighter stands near debris along a business street in the aftermath of Typhoon Bebinca in Shanghai, China, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024.

Chinatopix/AP

One person was reported injured as the storm swept through the city, unleashing strong winds and torrential rains.

Schools were closed, and residents were advised to remain indoors for safety.

60,000 emergency responders were deployed to assist in the aftermath, clearing debris and ensuring public safety.

The typhoon made landfall in the Pudong business district at around 7:30 a.m., with wind speeds reaching 94 mph.

China typhoon
A man carrying an umbrella walks by fallen tree branches along a street in the aftermath of Typhoon Bebinca in Shanghai, China, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024.

Chinatopix/AP

Torrential rains flooded roads in the district, according to images broadcast by state media.

Elsewhere in Shanghai, uprooted trees and fallen branches blanketed some roads and sidewalks.

As the typhoon eased, responders cleared branches and other objects blown around by the storm.

An elderly man on Chongming Island was injured by a falling tree and transported to a hospital for treatment.

Authorities reported that over 10,000 trees were uprooted or damaged, four houses were destroyed, and power was knocked out for at least 380 households.

Approximately 132 acres of farmland were submerged by floodwaters.

Shanghai’s transportation network faced widespread disruptions, with flights, ferries, and train services suspended in the city and nearby provinces.

Flights, ferries and train services had been suspended in the megacity and in neighboring provinces, disrupting travel during China’s three-day Mid-Autumn Festival.

China typhoon
Policemen closed a road as fallen trees along a street in the aftermath of Typhoon Bebinca in Shanghai, China, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024.

Chinatopix/AP

Shanghai’s airports canceled hundreds of flights from Sunday into Monday, and in Hangzhou, located about 106 miles southwest of Shanghai, more than 180 flights were canceled.

As Typhoon Bebinca moved inland and weakened, flights resumed on Monday afternoon.

Weather authorities have predicted up to 12 inches of rainfall in Shanghai and parts of neighboring provinces from Monday through Wednesday.

Earlier this month, Typhoon Yagi struck China’s southern Hainan island and wreaked havoc across Southeast Asia.

In Myanmar, the storm caused at least 74 deaths, with dozens more reported missing.

Hainan reported four deaths, while Thailand and the Philippines reported 10 and 20 fatalities, respectively.

Vietnam was particularly hard-hit, with over 230 people killed in the typhoon’s aftermath and subsequent flooding and landslides, leaving dozens still unaccounted for.

Yagi was the most powerful typhoon to strike Southeast Asia in decades, making landfall with winds reaching 92 mph.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press

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