China steps up flood control, disaster relief efforts as Typhoon Bavi moves inland

Chinese authorities are escalating flood control and disaster relief operations as Typhoon Bavi, the ninth typhoon of the year, continues its path inland. The typhoon made successive landfalls along the coast of Zhejiang Province late Saturday before moving northwestward.

Heavy to torrential rain is forecast from Sunday to Tuesday across a wide swathe of China, including Anhui, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang provinces, as well as parts of Liaoning and Jilin provinces. The Ministry of Water Resources has raised its flood alert to yellow, the third-highest level, warning of potential flooding in rivers, mountain torrents, and urban waterlogging.

In response to the anticipated impact, central authorities have dispatched 70,000 items of disaster relief supplies to Zhejiang, Tianjin, and Anhui. These supplies, which include folding beds, blankets, summer quilts, and family emergency kits, are intended to support the relocation and resettlement of residents affected by the typhoon. The allocation was a joint effort by several national agencies responsible for disaster prevention and relief.