Japan's southwestern islands on high alert as powerful Typhoon Bavi approaches

A powerful Typhoon Bavi is bearing down on Japan's remote southwestern islands, prompting urgent warnings of destructive weather conditions.

As of Friday morning, the typhoon was nearing the Sakishima Islands, located near Taiwan, packing maximum sustained winds of 162 km/h. Officials are bracing for violent winds, torrential rain, potential landslides, and flooding, with the storm expected to be the region's most destructive in years.

Residents on islands like Ishigaki, a popular tourist destination, are taking precautions. They have been seen stocking up on essential supplies, with supermarket shelves emptied of items like instant noodles. Public beaches, coastal parks, and ferry terminals have been closed due to safety concerns. Businesses are stringing up windproof nets and taping windows in preparation for the storm's impact.

In neighboring Taiwan, financial markets were closed, and many areas were off work. The Taipei government has established sandbag collection stations. While Bavi is not forecast to make landfall in Taiwan, it is expected to bring heavy rainfall starting late Friday before moving towards China's coast.

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I heard that this one will be pretty big. I’m a little concerned about whether our typhoon preparations are enough.