Hundreds of thousands of Chinese evacuated due to concerns about the impact of typhoon Pulasan

According to the city's flood control office, 649 ships were evacuated or returned to port to seek shelter, and 54 trains and 26 ferries were suspended. On September 19, regions in Shanghai upgraded their typhoon warning levels as the storm headed toward the city.

Rainfall began to increase across Shanghai from 2 a.m. on September 20, with the citywide average rainfall reaching 73.28 mm by 9 a.m. Of the 614 weather stations, 151 recorded heavy or alarming rainfall. The Yangjiazhai Meteorological Station in Fengxian District, where the typhoon made landfall directly, and the Nichen Park Meteorological Station in Pudong District recorded more than 300 mm of rainfall within six hours, breaking both districts' rainfall records since meteorological observations began.

Videos posted on social media on September 20 showed rising water levels in some areas, causing localized flooding, but so far no serious damage or casualties have been reported. A video released by the state-owned Shanghai Media Group showed about 10 cars damaged in the flooded area. Many areas were flooded early in the morning but had been cleared and were dry by around 11 a.m. on September 20.

Pulasan, the 14th typhoon of the year, made landfall in Shanghai's Fengxian on the evening of September 19 with maximum winds of 83 km/h, marking the second time the typhoon has hit China. Earlier in the day, the typhoon hit Zhejiang province in its first landfall on mainland China. Although it is still bringing heavy rain, Pulasan is forecast to weaken as it moves inland.

Earlier this week, Shanghai was hit by Typhoon Bebinca, the 13th typhoon this year and said to be the strongest to hit the city in 75 years. Typhoon Bebinca caused more than 1,800 trees to fall and 30,000 households to lose power, forcing authorities to evacuate more than 400,000 people across Shanghai ahead of the storm. Scientists believe that climate change due to greenhouse gas emissions is increasing the frequency and intensity of natural disasters and extreme weather.