Millions Evacuated Due to Typhoon Bavi
China has evacuated close to two million residents as Typhoon Bavi made landfall, marking the second major storm to hit the nation within a week. The typhoon, which spans around 1,000 kilometers—comparable to the width of France—first reached the coastal city of Taizhou on Saturday evening before striking Wenzhou around midnight.
Impact on Region
Prior to reaching China, Typhoon Bavi traveled through a series of remote Japanese islands and brought heavy rain as it grazed the northern tip of Taiwan. Earlier, landslides in the Philippines, triggered by the storm, resulted in at least 17 fatalities.
Although the typhoon has weakened to a severe tropical storm, it remains significant due to the substantial moisture contained in its rain bands. Forecasts predict a gradual decline in intensity as it moves northwest, with its center reaching Hangzhou City in Zhejiang province by Sunday morning, according to Chinese state media.
Predicted Path and Precautions
The storm is expected to proceed to eastern Anhui on Monday and reach the northern Yellow Sea from the Shandong Peninsula by Tuesday. Over 1.7 million individuals have been evacuated from Zhejiang, with additional evacuations occurring in nearby provinces. Schools, businesses, and outdoor events have been suspended in Zhejiang, alongside the cancellation of approximately 400 flights and numerous train services.
Wenzhou, which houses about 10 million people, lies near the storm's path, prompting the evacuation of hundreds of thousands. "We could hear roof tiles and tree branches falling," recounted Li Liangxing, a local resident, expressing the fear experienced by many.
Initial Formations and Effects
Originating as a super typhoon, Bavi initially hit Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands with wind speeds reaching 290 km/h. As it traveled across the Pacific, the storm's winds decreased to 144 km/h as it impacted Japan's Sakishima islands, part of the Ryukyu chain. The typhoon led to injuries and power outages, though no fatalities were reported in Japan or Taiwan.
While Taiwan avoided a direct hit, it faced potential landslides from heavy rain, prompting the evacuation of thousands and the suspension of flights and classes. Residents cleared supermarket shelves in anticipation of potential shortages.
Previous Typhoon and Ongoing Challenges
The region is still recovering from Typhoon Maysak earlier in the week, which resulted in at least 39 deaths and significant agricultural losses in southern China. Maysak also caused rare tornadoes in the central Hubei province.
Source: Original Article
