Shanghai hit by strongest storm in 75 years

Strong typhoon Bebinka has hit the commercial city of Shanghai. Local authorities said it was the strongest storm to hit the city in 75 years. Due to this storm, many flights have been canceled, train schedules have been delayed.
Typhoon Bebinka hit Shanghai at around 7:30 am local time on Monday (September 15). The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) said it recorded the storm’s maximum wind speed of 130 kilometers per hour.

However, the China Meteorological Administration said wind speeds of 151 km/h were recorded near the eye of the typhoon at the time of landfall.

Chinese state media described it as the strongest storm to hit Shanghai since 1949. That year, Typhoon Gloria hit with such force.

Earlier, local authorities issued a red alert for strong winds, heavy rain and coastal flooding in large parts of eastern China.

A three-day national holiday started last Sunday on the occasion of the traditional Moon Festival in China. During this time, tourists usually travel far away. But this time due to the strong storm, many people were forced to cancel that plan.

Thousands of residents of the Shanghai metropolitan area were evacuated due to the storm. All flights at the city’s two main airports have been suspended.

Besides, all train services in the state have been cancelled. Traffic on the highways has also been suspended. Shanghai’s 25 million residents have been advised to stay indoors ahead of the storm’s arrival. The maximum speed limit on inner city roads is fixed at 40 kmph.

According to analysts, it is very rare for a strong typhoon to hit Shanghai directly. It usually occurs in southern China.

Trees were uprooted and broken in several areas after the storm. The billboards were blown away.

Shanghai’s entertainment centers, such as Shanghai Disney Resort, Xinjiang Amusement Park and Shanghai Wild and Park, are temporarily closed. Many ferry services have also been suspended.

Typhoon Babinka has already crossed central and southern parts of Japan and the Philippines. It may now move northwest and cause heavy rain and strong winds in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui provinces, the China Meteorological Office said.

Another Typhoon Yagi hit China’s southern Hainan Island this month. As a result, Southeast Asia was hit by severe floods. Hundreds died, particularly in Vietnam and Myanmar.

Source: CNN