Typhoon Hits Shanghai with 94-MPH Winds, Over 400,000 Evacuated

September 16, 2024

Shanghai has been struck by its strongest typhoon since at least 1949, making landfall early Monday with winds reaching 94 mph (151 kph). The typhoon, named Bebinca, led to the evacuation of over 414,000 people from the city. In response to the storm, flights, ferries, and train services were suspended, disrupting travel during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Shanghai’s airports canceled hundreds of flights, and neighboring Hangzhou planned to cancel over 180 flights.

State media reported that more than 60,000 emergency responders and firefighters are deployed to assist with the crisis. The typhoon, which hit the Pudong district around 7:30 a.m., is expected to affect the neighboring provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Anhui.

Typhoon Yagi, which struck China’s Hainan island earlier this month, has caused significant damage across Southeast Asia, with reported fatalities in Myanmar, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam.