Shanghai/Nanjing, Sep 16 || Bebinca, the 13th typhoon of this year, made landfall in Shanghai at about 7:30 a.m. Monday, according to the Shanghai Central Meteorological Observatory.
The typhoon, with the maximum wind force near its center reaching 42 metres per second, churned ashore at the Lingang area of Pudong district.
Bebinca, believed to be the strongest typhoon to hit Shanghai in 75 years, has unleashed gales and torrential rain in the city. Pictures on social media showed trees uprooted and light poles toppled.
Monday is the second day of the three-day Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. Shanghai authorities have advised residents to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary, news agency reported.
The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters on Sunday activated the Level-IV emergency response for east China's Anhui Province and raised the response in Shanghai and Zhejiang to Level III.
Bebinca has led to flight cancellations over Shanghai and the suspension of passenger ferry operations in the city. Shanghai Railway Station also suspended passenger trains on several routes passing through the city from Sunday to Monday.
Shanghai Disneyland, Disneytown and Wishing Star Park remain closed on Monday, with the two resort hotels providing services to in-house guests, the Shanghai Disney Resort said in a statement, adding that normal operations are expected to resume from Tuesday.
Before the typhoon arrived, the Yangshan freight port was closed. Arrangements were made for truck drivers from outside Shanghai to stay in a "drivers' home" near the port.
According to Fan Jianrong with Shanghai Lingang Special Area Investment Holding Group Co., Ltd., there used to be 30 beds in the "drivers' home," but the group managed to increase the number to 80, collecting more mattresses and other supplies to accommodate more drivers.