SHANGHAI/BEIJING. Shanghai is on high alert as Typhoon Bebinca, potentially the strongest tropical cyclone to strike the city since 1949, approaches its eastern coast. The city has halted transportation, recalled ships, and temporarily closed major tourism sites, including Shanghai Disney Resort, as part of its emergency preparations.
As of 5:00 p.m. (0900 GMT) yesterday, Typhoon Bebinca, a Category 1 storm, was approximately 400 km southeast of Shanghai. The storm is packing maximum sustained winds near its center of 144 kph (89 mph) and is expected to make landfall after midnight on Monday. China’s Meteorological Administration has issued a typhoon red alert, cautioning residents in eastern China of strong gales and heavy rainfall.
Shanghai’s last significant storm was Typhoon Gloria in 1949, which brought similar wind speeds of 144 kph when it tore through the city. More recently, in 2022, Typhoon Muifa posed a threat to the city but landed 300 km away in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province. Unlike other areas in southern China that are more frequently hit by stronger storms, Shanghai has largely avoided direct strikes by powerful typhoons in recent years.
However, with Bebinca’s arrival, authorities are leaving no room for complacency. All flights at Shanghai’s two major airports will be canceled from 8 p.m. on Sunday, according to Shanghai Airport (Group) Co. Further adjustments will be made based on the storm’s impact. Additionally, Shanghai Railway Station has suspended some services, and the Shenzhen government announced halts to train services to and from Shanghai.
Tourism sites, including Shanghai Disney Resort, Jinjiang Amusement Park, and Shanghai Wild Animal Park, have also closed temporarily, while most ferry services to Chongming Island, known as “the gateway to the Yangtze River,” have been suspended. In neighboring Zhejiang province, ships have been recalled to safety, and several parks in the provincial capital, Hangzhou, have been closed.
Typhoon Bebinca’s arrival coincides with the Mid-Autumn Festival, a significant three-day national holiday when many Chinese families engage in outdoor activities or travel. Authorities are urging caution and vigilance during this period of celebration.
China’s Ministry of Water Resources has also issued a Level-IV emergency response, the lowest level in the country’s four-tier emergency system, for potential flooding in Shanghai and the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui.
Shanghai continues to brace itself for Bebinca’s impact, with residents and authorities on standby as the storm draws closer.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
