What's happened
Typhoon Bebinca struck Shanghai on September 16, 2024, causing significant damage and leading to the evacuation of over 414,000 residents. The storm, classified as the strongest to hit the city since 1949, resulted in power outages, flight cancellations, and injuries. As it moves northwest, further impacts are anticipated in eastern China.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to the New York Times, Typhoon Bebinca made landfall in Shanghai with winds of 151 km/h, leading to severe weather alerts and warnings of potential floods and landslides. The Independent reported that the storm caused the evacuation of over 414,000 people and was the strongest to hit Shanghai since 1949. Al Jazeera noted that the storm's arrival coincided with the Mid-Autumn Festival, significantly disrupting travel plans. The Japan Times highlighted the storm's unusual direct hit on Shanghai, a city typically spared from such severe typhoons. These reports collectively underscore the storm's immediate and potential long-term impacts on the region.
How we got here
Typhoon Bebinca formed on September 14, 2024, and rapidly intensified before making landfall in Shanghai. It followed Super Typhoon Yagi, which had already caused destruction in southern China, highlighting the increasing frequency and intensity of storms in the region due to climate change.
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Shanghai is one of the four direct-administered municipalities of the People's Republic of China. It is under the direct administration of the State Council of China.
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China, officially the People's Republic of China, is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population of around 1.4 billion in 2019.
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