Typhoon Bebinca, a Category 1 storm, struck Shanghai on Monday morning, becoming the strongest tropical cyclone to directly impact the Chinese financial hub since 1949.
With winds reaching 151 kph (94 mph), Bebinca made landfall at approximately 7:30 a.m. local time (2330 GMT), marking it the most potent storm since Typhoon Gloria. Shanghai, a city of nearly 25 million people, seldom experiences direct hits from severe typhoons, which typically affect regions further south in China, such as last week’s Category 4 Typhoon Yagi near Hainan province.
The storm’s arrival prompted significant disruptions. Since Sunday night, authorities have cancelled hundreds of flights from the city’s two major airports and suspended some rail services from Shanghai railway station. This coincides with China’s three-day Mid-Autumn Festival public holiday, affecting numerous travellers.
Additionally, major attractions, including Shanghai Disney Resort, Jinjiang Amusement Park, and Shanghai Wild Animal Park, have temporarily shut down, alongside several halted ferry services, to ensure public safety and mitigate the storm’s impact.
