Hundreds of thousands of residents were evacuated as Typhoon Bebinca struck near Shanghai, China’s financial hub. The storm made landfall at approximately 7:30 AM local time (23:30 GMT) in the coastal area of Lingang New City, marking the strongest typhoon to hit the city in 75 years, according to Chinese state media.
By Sunday evening, over 400,000 people had been relocated from the Shanghai Metropolitan area, with an additional 9,000 evacuating from Chongming District, an island at the mouth of the Yangtze River.
As a result of the severe weather, hundreds of flights were canceled, and both of the city’s main airports grounded all operations. Train services were also suspended, and highways were closed, with a speed limit of 40 km/h (25 mph) imposed on city roads.
Authorities urged Shanghai’s 25 million residents to remain indoors as the storm wreaked havoc. A red alert, the highest level, was issued, with wind speeds reaching up to 151 km/h (94 mph) reported at the eye of the typhoon. It is expected to weaken as it moves inland.
Social media was abuzz with reactions, as videos showed toppled trees and people struggling with bicycles and motorcycles through flooded streets. A clip shared by Shanghai Daily captured a bus braking suddenly in a major shopping district as billboards, propelled by fierce winds, crashed to the ground. Many users on Weibo expressed their concerns over the storm’s potential impact.