China: Typhoon Bebinca makes its way towards Shanghai, set to make landfall after midnight
SHANGHAI – Typhoon Bebinca is approaching Shanghai, one of China’s most densely populated cities and the country’s financial hub, prompting authorities to issue warnings in preparation for what seems to be the strongest tropical cyclone since 1949.
The Category 1 typhoon, with maximum sustained winds of around 144 kilometres per hour (89 miles per hour) at its centre, was located approximately 500 kilometres southeast of Shanghai as of 1:00 p.m. local time (0500 GMT). It is forecasted to make landfall along China’s eastern coast after midnight on Monday.
The Ministry of Water Resources has launched level four emergency operations (the lowest level) for flood risks in Shanghai, as well as in the eastern provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui, reported the official news agency Xinhua.
The Ministry of Disaster Management has called for vigilance among officials, given that “many people will be travelling, mobility will be high, and risks will be significant.”
Flights to and from Shanghai airports have been cancelled or rescheduled as of Sunday, according to state media.
Passenger maritime services are also suspended from Sunday, according to an official statement from the municipal port published on social media.
The most powerful storm to hit Shanghai in recent decades was Typhoon Gloria in 1949, which struck the city with gusts reaching 144 kph. More recently, Shanghai was at risk of a direct impact from Typhoon Muifa in 2022, but the storm ultimately made landfall 300 kilometres away in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province.
