Typhoon Bavi Approaches Eastern China
Hundreds of thousands of residents have been evacuated from eastern China as Typhoon Bavi, the country's second typhoon in a week, advances toward the coast. The storm, spanning approximately 1,000 km (620 miles) at its widest, is anticipated to make landfall near the major city of Wenzhou on Sunday morning.
Typhoon Bavi has already impacted several regions, including a series of remote Japanese islands where it caused significant damage. It also delivered heavy rainfall to Taiwan after passing near its northern tip. Earlier in its progression, landslides triggered by the storm resulted in 17 fatalities in the Philippines.
Although Bavi has weakened to a Category 1 typhoon, it remains a significant threat due to the extensive moisture contained within its rain bands.
Forecast and Precautionary Measures
Authorities have forecasted "exceptionally heavy rains" for eastern Zhejiang province and northeastern Fujian province. They emphasized that evacuations were conducted "entirely to guard against the [worst-case] scenario." The city of Wenzhou, with a population of approximately 10 million, lies close to the projected path of the storm.
Storm's Path and Impact on Japan and Taiwan
Typhoon Bavi originated as a super typhoon, striking Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands last Monday with wind speeds reaching 290 km/h (180 mph). As it moved across the Pacific, the storm weakened to winds of 144 km/h before hitting the Sakishima islands, part of Japan's Ryukyu island chain located between the main islands of Japan and Taiwan. The storm injured at least five people and caused power outages affecting thousands.
Taiwan was spared a direct hit but experienced significant rainfall that forced thousands to evacuate their homes amid landslide risks. To date, neither Japan nor Taiwan has reported any fatalities related to the typhoon.
Preparations and Disruptions in Taiwan and China
Taiwanese authorities warned that Bavi could produce up to 1 meter (39 inches) of rainfall. In response, dozens of flights were canceled, schools suspended classes, and residents stocked up on supplies, leading to cleared supermarket shelves.
Aftermath of Previous Typhoon Maysak
Parts of southern China continue to recover from the destruction caused by Typhoon Maysak earlier this week. Maysak resulted in at least 39 deaths and significant livestock losses, severely impacting agriculture. Additionally, the storm triggered two rare tornadoes in Hubei province.
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