As the mightiest typhoon since 1949, Typhoon Bebinca unleashed its fury on Shanghai and its surrounding areas early Monday, forcing tens of millions to seek shelter. The typhoon, characterized by wind speeds reaching up to 151 kilometers per hour (94 miles per hour), made its devastating entrance in Shanghai’s eastern coastal sectors.
According to state broadcaster CCTV, this tempest matched the intensity of Typhoon Gloria from 1949 when it struck. With the Mid-Autumn Festival causing many businesses to close, the city’s authorities urged Shanghai’s vast population of 25 million to stay indoors to avoid the havoc wreaked by Bebinca.
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Impact on the City
The Shanghai flood control headquarters was quickly inundated with reports of damage, predominantly fallen trees, and dislodged billboards, CCTV reported. The disruption was widespread, with one uprooted tree blocking a major road in the central district, an occurrence witnessed by an AFP reporter.
Residents’ Experience
Residents like Xiong Zhuowu, a doctor from the northern Baoshan district, expressed their anxiety and precautionary measures. “I feel quite nervous today, I’m constantly checking what the situation is out the window,” Xiong relayed to AFP. He also noted the proactive steps taken by property management to mitigate damage, such as relocating vehicles to safer areas.
In some parts of Shanghai, despite the severe weather, daily life attempted to continue. Wu Yun, a local resident, explained her decision to face the storm due to work obligations, comparing the intensity to typhoons she had experienced in southern China.
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Transportation and Evacuations
Transportation was severely disrupted; all flights out of Shanghai’s main airports were canceled, and numerous ferry and train services were halted. The city imposed a 40-kilometer-per-hour speed limit on local roads, and by early morning, highways around the city were shut down.
Authorities evacuated nearly nine thousand residents from the Chongming District, situated at the Yangtze River’s mouth. The typically congested roads of Shanghai were eerily deserted, with the famous skyline shrouded in fog, captured in live video feeds during the morning rush hour.
Regional Effects and Future Predictions
CCTV also highlighted scenes from Zhejiang province, showing a coastline battered by relentless waves. The impact of Bebinca was not confined to Shanghai; the typhoon had previously caused destruction in Japan and the central and southern Philippines, where it was responsible for several fatalities.
Looking forward, the typhoon is expected to proceed northwest, potentially bringing significant rainfall and strong winds to Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui provinces. As the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, the increasing frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events in China are a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges posed by climate change.
Reflections on a Record-Breaking Typhoon
Typhoon Bebinca’s unprecedented impact on Shanghai serves as a potent example of the escalating severity of weather patterns. While the community’s resilience is noteworthy, the event underscores the urgent need for continued vigilance and adaptation strategies in the face of climate change.
