Typhoon Bavi has made landfall in eastern China’s coastal city of Taizhou, prompting the evacuation of nearly 2 million people. The storm, packing winds of 144 km/h, had previously affected Japan and Taiwan.
While Taiwan experienced injuries and significant flight cancellations, the worst impacts were feared in China. Authorities in Zhejiang province, where Taizhou is located, reported over 1.7 million evacuations.
Typhoon Bavi made a powerful landfall late Saturday in the coastal city of Taizhou, located in eastern China's Zhejiang province. The storm forced the evacuation of nearly 2 million people from the region, underscoring the significant threat posed by the weather system. Earlier, Typhoon Bavi had swept across Japan's southern Sakishima island chain and skirted the northern coast of Taiwan.
Despite showing signs of weakening and slowing its northwesterly trajectory, Typhoon Bavi remains a substantial risk due to the immense volume of moisture contained within its expansive rain bands, which stretch across a distance comparable to the width of France. At the time of landfall, the National Meteorological Center reported that Bavi sustained maximum winds of approximately 144 km per hour (90 mph), classifying it as a Category 1 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
State media reports indicate that over 1.7 million individuals were evacuated from Zhejiang province alone. Neighboring Fujian province and Beijing also saw over 100,000 evacuations each, while Shanghai initiated the evacuation of approximately 34,000 residents. A resident of Wenzhou, Huang Xinghuan (50), expressed a measured concern, stating, "I'm a little worried, but I think it'll be OK. We've been through typhoons before. We'll get through it." He added that his family had stocked sufficient water and supplies for a few days, advising against unnecessary panic or over-stockpiling.
While Japan and Taiwan have not reported any fatalities directly attributed to the typhoon, the Philippines experienced 17 deaths resulting from heavy rainfall associated with an enhanced southwest monsoon, which was exacerbated by Bavi's influence.
In Taiwan, the island's fire department reported 113 injuries, primarily caused by falls from motorcycles or bicycles, as well as individuals falling or being struck by falling objects.
Taiwan Spared the Worst of Bavi
The Taiwanese government proactively evacuated over 14,000 people, mainly from mountainous regions, and shut down much of the island in anticipation of Bavi's approach. Although the typhoon did not make direct landfall in Taiwan, authorities implemented extensive precautions to prevent loss of life, especially given forecasts predicting up to 1 meter (3 feet) of rainfall in certain areas.
The majority of evacuations occurred in the northern and eastern parts of the island. Consequently, 920 international flights were canceled, effectively suspending operations at Taiwan's primary international gateway, Taoyuan Airport, near the capital, Taipei. All 282 domestic flights were also grounded.
Most cities and counties across Taiwan declared a typhoon holiday on Saturday, closing offices and schools. However, some businesses, like restaurants and convenience stores in Taipei, remained open. The main north-south high-speed rail line continued to operate, albeit with reduced services.
Despite the conditions, some residents in downtown Taipei ventured out. Yeh Mao-hsiung (68), walking his dog, commented, "It's OK, it's not that serious. It's just a little bit more wind." In contrast, the Beitou neighborhood, situated in the foothills surrounding Taipei, experienced wind gusts around 100 kph, leading to fallen trees and swollen rivers.
Chen Qiuqin, a resident of Wenzhou in her 60s, was en route to her parents' home to assist with typhoon preparations, expressing moderate concern. "I was worried about the flowerpots on my mother's balcony, so I'm going to help move them inside. My parents are both elderly and they're home alone, so I wasn't at ease," she said, acknowledging the government's readiness.
