Decades-old record-breaking typhoon brings Shanghai to a standstill.
The destructive force of Super Typhoon "Bebinca," comparable to one from 1946, has impacted Shanghai, a city with a population of 25 million. On Monday, denizens along China's heavily populated eastern coast stayed indoors as the tempest uprooted countless trees and created disruptions in traffic. According to state television, this event is the strongest storm to hit Shanghai since Typhoon "Gloria" in 1949.
The typhoon made landfall in the Pudong area of eastern Shanghai at dawn on Monday, with winds estimated to be around 150 kilometers per hour. The city administration reported that the consequences included significant damage throughout the city, with more than 1800 trees uprooted and 30,000 households lacking power. Approximately 414,000 residents were forced to evacuate. Over 10,000 rescue workers were prepared to intervene.
Preceding the typhoon, warnings were disseminated by the authorities. Flights and ferry services were halted, and the 25 million Shanghai residents were warned to stay inside. Highways were also shuttered. Numerous businesses were closed due to a holiday.
The usually bustling roads of the metropolis were virtually empty, and Shanghai's famous skyline was shrouded by dense fog. Over 9000 inhabitants were evacuated from the Chongming district, an island at the Yangtze River's mouth, according to reports.
Grim Consequences of "Yagi"
State television predicted that the typhoon would proceed in a northwesterly direction, bringing heavy rain and fierce winds over Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Anhui's Chinese provinces. A CCTV station reporter reported from Zhejiang province, where waves towered against the rocky coast beneath a gray sky. He mentioned that speaking outside during the storm would be difficult.
Prior to reaching Shanghai, "Bebinca" passed over Japan and the Philippines, resulting in the deaths of six individuals from falling trees. The Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand are still grappling with the aftermath of the preceding typhoon "Yagi": floods and landslides attributable to it have claimed more than 400 lives.
On Monday, Vietnam's state media reported an economic loss of $1.6 billion (1.4 billion euros) due to "Yagi." More than 230,000 homes were damaged, and crops on an area of 280,000 hectares were ruined. In Myanmar, "Yagi" caused the worst flooding in the country's recent history, according to the World Food Programme. The lasting effects on agriculture have yet to be calculated, but a UN organization representative warned that the consequences for food supply would be catastrophic.
The destructive path of Typhoon "Bebinca" also affected neighboring countries, causing significant loss in the Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Over 400 lives were lost due to floods and landslides from Typhoon "Yagi", which preceded "Bebinca".
In the Philippines, Typhoon "Yagi" left numerous trees uprooted and caused extensive damage, similar to the impact witnessed in Shanghai after Super Typhoon "Bebinca".
