Devastating Impacts of Typhoon Bebinca Across Southeast Asia
Summary
Typhoon Bebinca struck the Philippines, resulting in six fatalities and 13,000 displaced, before affecting Japan and prompting flight cancellations in Shanghai, China, as authorities prepared for its landfall. The storm has caused severe weather warnings and emergency protocols in the affected areas.
On September 15, 2018, Typhoon Bebinca significantly affected parts of Southeast Asia, most notably the Philippines, Japan, and China. The tropical storm resulted in the tragic deaths of six individuals in the Philippines, where strong winds and flooding caused by the storm wreaked havoc. Among the casualties, four children tragically lost their lives when a massive tree fell upon their motorized tricycle in Malabang, Lanao del Sur, as reported by municipal police official Christina Obina. “The wind was so strong, causing the tree to be uprooted,” she stated. Moreover, a toddler and a woman in Zamboanga Peninsula perished after trees collapsed onto their homes during the severe conditions. The aftermath of Typhoon Bebinca has led to the displacement of approximately 13,000 persons and inflicted substantial damage to roadways and infrastructure across the Philippines. In addition, national disaster officials reported at least 11 injuries alongside two individuals still unaccounted for following the storm. The typhoon subsequently proceeded to impact Japan, striking Amami Island with gusts reaching up to 198 kilometers per hour, prompting warnings from the Japan Meteorological Agency regarding the heightened risk of landslides due to the ensuing heavy rainfall. As preparations commenced in China for the imminent arrival of Typhoon Bebinca, all flights at Shanghai’s two primary airports were cancelled on the evening of September 16. The authorities issued warnings indicating that the storm would make landfall along China’s densely populated eastern coastline, coinciding with the celebratory period of the Mid-Autumn Festival public holiday. The emergency management ministry has cautioned that heavy downpours, classified as “local heavy or extremely heavy rainstorms,” were anticipated from September 16 through September 18. In anticipation of the storm, the water resources ministry activated a level-four emergency response for potential flooding, while Shanghai and adjacent provinces were placed under an orange typhoon warning, the second-highest in the alert system. Residents were urged to take necessary precautions against the impacts of Typhoon Bebinca, especially in relation to transportation, infrastructure, and agriculture. Additionally, passenger shipping lines in Shanghai were set to suspend operations starting September 16, in light of the storm threat.
Typhoon Bebinca is a powerful storm that affected multiple countries in East Asia primarily in September 2018. Its impacts were felt first in the Philippines where strong winds and flooding resulted in fatalities and mass displacement. As the storm progressed, it also impacted Japan, leading to severe weather alerts and safety warnings. The subsequent threat posed to China prompted extensive emergency preparations, cancelling flights and activating disaster response mechanisms due to the typhoon’s expected arrival during a major holiday period. This situation highlights the significant effects that tropical cyclones can have on human safety and infrastructure.
In summary, Typhoon Bebinca manifested as a severe tropical storm causing tragic loss of life, substantial displacement and infrastructural damage across the Philippines, followed by warnings and preparations in Japan and China. The comprehensive response from authorities in these regions underscores the persistent threat posed by powerful storms and the necessity for preparedness in mitigating such disasters.
Original Source: www.lemonde.fr
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