Shanghai crumbles as most powerful typhoon in 75 years brings city to its knees

Shanghai came to a standstill as Typhoon Bebinca, the most powerful storm in 75 years, hit the city on Monday, September 16, 2024, with winds up to 151 km/h. This Category 1 typhoon wreaked havoc, uprooting trees, flooding streets, and disrupting the lives of millions. Bebinca’s impact reminded locals of a storm not seen since 1949, forcing over 414,000 people to evacuate and leading to widespread power outages and infrastructure damage. For China’s financial hub, it was a day of chaos.

City on lockdown as Shanghai battles devastation

Typhoon Bebinca formed over the weekend and quickly intensified before hitting Shanghai’s Pudong district early on Monday morning. Pudong, an industrial area, was hit hardest, with strong winds damaging buildings, roads, and farmlands. Shanghai’s two international airports, typically buzzing with activity, fell silent as nearly 1,400 flights were cancelled, along with over 570 train services. This disrupted travel plans for millions of people celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Authorities took unprecedented measures, shutting down highways, enforcing a 40 km/h speed limit across city roads, and halting ferry services on the Yangtze River. Shanghai was virtually on lockdown as residents sought shelter from the storm’s wrath. Despite the preparations, Bebinca caused significant damage, uprooting more than 10,000 trees and flooding major roads, which cut off access to essential areas.

Power outages spread across Shanghai, leaving hundreds of households without electricity. Rescue efforts mobilised 56,000 workers to deal with the fallout, including clearing debris and restoring basic services. The storm’s impact extended to neighbouring provinces, including Jiangsu, Anhui, and Zhejiang, where heavy rainfall posed further risks of flooding.

Expert opinion: Is climate change driving extreme storms?

Meteorologists have attributed the increasing intensity of storms like Bebinca to rising sea temperatures, a direct result of global climate change. Experts from the Shanghai Typhoon Institute believe that the frequency of strong typhoons could become the new normal for Shanghai and other regions, which historically have been less exposed to direct storm landfalls. According to Tang Jie, deputy head of the Institute, the effects of Bebinca were severe, but the greatest threat lay in the heavy rains and flooding that followed the storm.

The climate crisis is altering weather patterns globally, and the warm waters surrounding China’s coast are feeding these stronger storms. Bebinca’s destruction is a stark reminder that cities like Shanghai, renowned for their economic prowess, are not immune to climate change’s extreme consequences.

Shanghai’s recovery efforts and the road ahead

As Shanghai begins to recover, the city faces immense challenges. The storm heavily damaged infrastructure, and blocked roads and flooded streets are delaying rescue efforts. Power and water shortages have left many districts struggling to restore basic services. City officials have launched massive recovery operations, with rescue workers and firefighters clearing debris and reopening vital transport routes.

While Bebinca moves further inland, the lessons from this storm cannot be ignored. Shanghai, like other global megacities, must reconsider its disaster preparedness as extreme weather events become more frequent and intense. The typhoon has raised questions about whether the city is fully prepared to handle future storms of similar magnitude.

A new era of storms

Shanghai’s experience with Typhoon Bebinca is a stark reminder of the rising threat posed by climate change. As the strongest storm to hit the city in over seven decades, Bebinca has underscored the need for greater resilience in urban infrastructure and disaster planning. With the storm now weakened, the damage left behind will take time to repair, and the city must look ahead to prepare for the challenges posed by future storms. The financial hub of China, long seen as a symbol of growth and modernisation, must now face the harsh reality of climate change’s impact.