Typhoon Bebinca hits Shanghai, China, prompting the evacuation of over 400,000 residents.

Typhoon Bebinca hits Shanghai, China, prompting the evacuation of over 400,000 residents.

**Taipei, Taiwan** — Typhoon Bebinca, the most powerful storm to strike Shanghai since at least 1949, wreaked havoc on the city on Monday. The typhoon brought severe flooding, power outages, and widespread damage. Over 414,000 people were evacuated ahead of the storm's arrival, which was marked by intense winds and heavy rain. Schools were closed, and residents were urged to stay indoors.

In Shanghai’s Chongming Island, an elderly man was injured by a falling tree and was hospitalized, as reported by state media.

The typhoon made landfall around 7:30 a.m. in the Pudong business district, with winds reaching 94 mph at its center. State media images showed roads in Pudong inundated by torrential rains. Throughout Shanghai, uprooted trees and fallen branches covered many streets and sidewalks.

**Typhoon Bebinca Hits Shanghai**

A tourist struggles against the fierce winds brought by Typhoon Bebinca on September 16, 2024, in Shanghai, China. (Yin Liqin/China News Service/VCG/Getty)

As the typhoon began to dissipate, emergency responders worked to clear debris and restore order. Over 60,000 emergency personnel and firefighters were deployed to assist with the aftermath.

Authorities reported that the storm caused the uprooting or damage of more than 10,000 trees and disrupted power for at least 380 households. Four homes were damaged, and approximately 132 acres of farmland were flooded.

The typhoon lost strength as it moved inland, affecting parts of Jiangsu, Anhui, and Zhejiang provinces. Travel was severely impacted during China’s three-day Mid-Autumn Festival, with flights, ferries, and train services suspended in Shanghai and surrounding regions. Hundreds of flights were canceled at Shanghai’s airports on Sunday and Monday, and Hangzhou, about 106 miles southwest of Shanghai, also saw the cancellation of over 180 flights. Flight operations at Shanghai's airports resumed by Monday afternoon as the storm moved on.

Weather authorities anticipate that Shanghai and nearby provinces could see up to 12 inches of rainfall from Monday through Wednesday.

Typhoon Bebinca's impact is a rare event for Shanghai, which typically experiences typhoons making landfall further south in China. Earlier this month, Typhoon Yagi devastated Southeast Asia, causing significant casualties in Myanmar, Hainan, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Typhoon Shanshan, which weakened before reaching Japan, still caused substantial flooding and some deaths.

Climatologists note that storms like Typhoon Bebinca are becoming more intense and unpredictable due to climate change, which increases ocean temperatures and provides more energy for severe weather events.