Shanghai braces for typhoon Bebinca: city halts transportation and closes tourist attractions
In anticipation of Typhoon Bebinca, Shanghai has taken extensive measures to prepare for what could be the strongest tropical cyclone to impact the city since 1949. On Sunday, Shanghai authorities suspended all transportation links, recalled ships, and shut down key tourism spots, including the popular Shanghai Disney Resort.
As of 5:00 p.m. local time (0900 GMT), Typhoon Bebinca, a Category 1 storm, was located approximately 400 kilometers southeast of Shanghai. The typhoon is packing maximum sustained winds of around 144 km/h (89 mph) and is expected to make landfall along China’s eastern coast after midnight on Monday. The China Meteorological Administration has issued a red alert, forecasting gales and heavy rainfalls for eastern China.
The last major typhoon to strike Shanghai was Typhoon Gloria in 1949, which also had winds reaching 144 km/h. While the city was last threatened by a strong storm in 2022 when Typhoon Muifa made landfall 300 km away in Zhoushan, this will be the first major typhoon to hit Shanghai directly in decades.
In response to the impending storm, all flights from Shanghai’s two airports will be canceled starting at 8 p.m. local time, with the Shanghai Airport (Group) Co. indicating that further adjustments will be announced based on the storm’s impact. The Shanghai railway station has also suspended some services to ensure passenger safety, and trains to and from Shanghai have been halted by the Shenzhen government.
Tourism in Shanghai is at a standstill, with attractions such as Shanghai Disney Resort, Jinjiang Amusement Park, and Shanghai Wild Animal Park temporarily closed. Most ferries to and from Chongming Island, a significant gateway to the Yangtze River, have been halted.
In Zhejiang province, ships have been recalled, and several parks in the capital, Hangzhou, have announced closures. The arrival of Typhoon Bebinca coincides with the Mid-Autumn Festival, a three-day national holiday marked by increased travel and outdoor activities.
China’s Ministry of Water Resources has issued a Level-IV emergency response, the lowest tier in China’s four-level emergency system, to address potential flooding in Shanghai and the surrounding provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui.
