By TV Channel 7 and Reuters – published by CNA
BOTH Typhoon Bebinca which slammed into Shanghai this morning (Sep. 16) and a tropical storm named Pulasan which is forming in the Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines will not be entering Thailand, the Thai Meteorological Department said.
Pulasan, named by Malaysia and is a type of fruit similar to longan, is moving northwestward and heading for eastern China but will not be coming to Thailand.
Bebinca will weaken after its landfall in China this morning and likewise will not affect Thailand with the rain during this period being due to the influence of a strong monsoon and a monsoon trough.
Bebinca made landfall in Shanghai as a Category 1 storm, the most powerful tropical cyclone to directly hit the Chinese financial hub in more than seven decades.
Packing top wind speeds of 151kmh near its eye, Bebinca landed in the city of nearly 25 million around 7.30 a.m. local time, state media reported, the strongest storm to strike Shanghai since Typhoon Gloria in 1949.
Shanghai is rarely subject to direct hits from strong typhoons that generally make landfall further south in China. Yagi, a destructive Category 4 storm, roared past southern Hainan province last week.
Hundreds of flights have been cancelled from the city’s two airports since Sunday night, with state broadcaster CCTV reporting that all flights at Shanghai’s two main airports would be cancelled from 8 p.m. on Sunday because of the storm.
In an advisory posted on its website, Singapore Airlines (SIA) said four flights to and from Shanghai Pudong Airport on Sunday and Monday have been cancelled due to weather conditions caused by the storm.
SIA added that as the situation remains fluid, other flights between Singapore and China may be affected due to the storm.
In response to CNA’s queries on Sunday, Changi Airport Group said that 11 flights to Shanghai between Sunday and Monday are affected.
Shanghai railway station has also suspended some rail services. These disruptions come as China celebrates the three-day mid-Autumn Festival public holiday.
Resorts in Shanghai, including Shanghai Disney Resort, Jinjiang Amusement Park and Shanghai Wild Animal Park, have been temporarily closed and many ferries halted.
CAPTIONS:
Top: Pedestrians struggle with their umbrellas in strong winds and rain from the passage of Typhoon Bebinca in Shanghai today, Sep. 16, 2024. Photo: AFP/Hector Retamal and published by CNA
Front Page: A view of a pink cloudy skyline is seen in Shanghai, China, on Sunday, Sep. 15, 2024. Photo: Chinatopix Via AP and published by CNA
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