Typhoon Bebinca Strikes Shanghai, Strongest Storm Since 1949

Shanghai, Sept. 16 – Typhoon Bebinca made a powerful landfall in Shanghai early Monday morning, marking the strongest storm to directly hit the city in over seven decades. The Category 1 typhoon, with wind speeds reaching 151 kph (94 mph) near its center, impacted Shanghai at around 7:30 a.m. local time (2330 GMT). According to state media, this is the most intense tropical cyclone the city has seen since Typhoon Gloria in 1949.

Shanghai, a city of nearly 25 million, rarely experiences direct hits from strong typhoons, as they usually make landfall further south along China's coastline. The storm's arrival follows Typhoon Yagi, a Category 4 cyclone that passed through Hainan province the previous week.

The storm has caused major disruptions across the city, with hundreds of flights canceled from Shanghai’s two airports since Sunday night. Additionally, some rail services at the Shanghai railway station have been suspended. These interruptions coincide with the three-day mid-Autumn Festival holiday.

In response to the typhoon, major resorts such as Shanghai Disney Resort, Jinjiang Amusement Park, and Shanghai Wild Animal Park have temporarily closed, while ferry services have also been halted for safety reasons.