Typhoon Bavi: Nearly Two Million Evacuated in China as Storm Makes Landfall

Authorities in China have evacuated nearly two million people as Typhoon Bavi made landfall on the eastern coast. The storm struck the coastal city of Taizhou in Zhejiang province late Saturday with wind speeds reaching 144 kilometers per hour, according to the National Meteorological Center. While the typhoon is weakening over cooler waters, the agency warned of extreme rainfall.

Staten media reported that over 1.7 million people were evacuated in Zhejiang province alone. An additional 100,000 were moved in neighboring Fujian province and Beijing, with around 34,000 in Shanghai. The ten million residents of Wenzhou prepared for the storm's arrival.

Before reaching China, "Bavi" had passed by Taiwan, where the government evacuated over 14,000 people from mountainous areas as a precaution. Most cities and counties in Taiwan declared Saturday a non-working day, leading to school and government closures. Air traffic was severely disrupted, with approximately 920 international flights canceled at Taoyuan International Airport. Taiwan reported 113 injuries, primarily from falls or flying debris.

The typhoon had previously hit Japan's southern Sakishima Islands with heavy rain and strong winds. No fatalities were initially reported in Japan or Taiwan. However, the Philippines reported 17 deaths linked to heavy monsoon rains intensified by the typhoon's effects.