China Hit by Second Typhoon in a Week; Nearly 2 Million Evacuated

China is grappling with the aftermath of Typhoon Bavi, the second powerful storm to strike the nation in just one week. Nearly two million people have been evacuated from areas in the storm's path as Bavi made landfall, bringing torrential rain and strong winds. The typhoon, which was exceptionally wide at 1,000km across, first hit the coastal city of Taizhou and later made a second landfall in Wenzhou.

Before reaching China, Typhoon Bavi impacted other regions. It brought heavy rainfall to Taiwan and caused deadly landslides in the Philippines, where at least 17 people perished. Although Bavi has weakened to a severe tropical storm, its extensive rain bands still pose a significant risk due to the large volume of moisture they contain.

In China's eastern Zhejiang province, authorities took extensive measures to mitigate the storm's impact. Over 1.7 million people were evacuated, schools and outdoor activities were suspended, and hundreds of flights and dozens of train services were cancelled. The city of Wenzhou, with a population of around 10 million, was particularly close to the storm's path, leading to the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of residents.

This event follows closely on the heels of Typhoon Maysak, which devastated parts of southern China earlier in the week, leaving at least 39 people dead and causing significant agricultural losses. The country faces a challenging period as it recovers from one storm while simultaneously preparing for and enduring another.