Typhoon Bavi Weakens but Continues to Lash China with Winds and Rain

Typhoon Bavi weakened to a tropical storm on Sunday after making landfall in China's eastern Zhejiang province, yet it continued to unleash days of strong winds and heavy rain across affected regions. The storm's intensity diminished as it tracked northwestward into Anhui province, according to China's national weather center.

Authorities had initiated large-scale evacuations prior to the storm's arrival. In Zhejiang province, over 2.2 million people were moved from vulnerable areas. Shanghai evacuated more than 290,000 residents, while Fujian province saw over 180,000 people evacuated. The coastal city of Yueqing in Zhejiang reported more than 1,300 trees toppled, with at least 700 uprooted.

Transportation faced significant disruption. Shanghai's Pudong and Hongqiao international airports anticipated cancellations for approximately 653 inbound and outbound flights. While Bavi passed north of Taiwan on Saturday without making direct landfall, the storm still caused injuries to at least 134 people across the island, many due to slippery roads and strong winds.

Initially classified as a "super typhoon" near Guam, Bavi brought severe conditions to the Northern Mariana Islands, which were still recovering from a previous typhoon. Even as a tropical storm, Bavi's massive scale, spanning about 620 miles, and its significant moisture content posed ongoing risks to areas in its path.