Shanghai cleans up after strongest storm in decades

Emergency crew has to clear some 1,800 felled trees, restore power to 30,000 homes

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Emergency workers cleared fallen trees and other debris from Shanghai's streets after the strongest storm to hit the Chinese megacity since 1949 disrupted transport and left tens of thousands of people without power.

Typhoon Bebinca landed in Shanghai's eastern coastal area early on Sept 16 morning with wind speeds of around 150kmh, state media said.

The municipal news service said the typhoon had caused "significant damage across the city", felling more than 1,800 trees and leaving 30,000 households without electricity.

Many businesses were already closed for the Mid-Autumn Festival public holiday and the city's 25 million residents were advised to avoid leaving their homes.

Only one injury has been reported so far, the municipal news service said.

Workers in orange jumpsuits cleared a big pile of corrugated iron and other metal that appeared to have fallen from a nearby building onto a major road in the city centre.

Shanghai resident Tracy Huang, who had ventured outside to buy supplies, watched them as the rain continued to pour.

"I didn't plan to go out today but there was a power outage in our house," she said.