Worthy Christian News > World News > China: Shanghai Hit With Most Powerful Typhoon in 75 Years

China: Shanghai Hit With Most Powerful Typhoon in 75 Years

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – The city of Shanghai in China on Monday was struck by the most powerful typhoon it has experienced since 1949, with hundreds of thousands of people having had to evacuate their homes, the Associated Press reports.

A typhoon is a rapidly rotating tropical storm system that produces hurricane-force winds and torrential rain. While the Phillippines tend to see most typhoons hit landfall, China has suffered some of the deadliest typhoons in history.

Typhoon Bebinca made landfall in the Pudong business district of Shanghai at around 7:30 a.m. local time. It had winds of 151 kph (94 mph) near its center, AP reports.

Over 414,000 of Shanghai’s 25 million residents had been evacuated ahead of the typhoon, and schools were closed. Residents were advised to stay indoors. Torrential rains caused flooding, and power outages ensued amid uprooted trees and damage to houses. At least 53 hectares (132 acres) of farmland were flooded, AP said.

“Flights, ferries, and train services have been suspended in the megacity and in neighboring provinces, disrupting travel during China’s three-day Mid-Autumn Festival,” AP said in its report. “Shanghai’s airports canceled more than 1,400 flights, while in Hangzhou, about 170 kilometers (106 miles) southwest of Shanghai, authorities also canceled more than 180 flights,” AP said.

Up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) of rainfall are expected in the area between Monday and Wednesday, AP said.