Chinese authorities evacuated more than 1.7 million people in Zhejiang province and issued high alerts as Typhoon Bavi approached eastern China on Saturday, after the storm brought strong winds and rain to Japan’s southern islands and Taiwan. At least 17 people were killed in the Philippines, mostly due to landslides intensified by the typhoon, officials said.
Mass evacuations in China
As of Saturday morning, Zhejiang province evacuated over 1.7 million residents, according to the official Xinhua News Agency. In Shanghai, about 34,000 people were relocated from high-risk areas by Saturday noon. In Ningde city, Fujian province, more than 3,700 people were moved from coastal areas as of Friday evening, with over 17,000 emergency rescue workers on standby.
China’s National Meteorological Centre issued an orange typhoon alert, the second-highest level, and the first red alert for rainstorms of the year, state broadcaster CCTV reported. Schools and ferry services were suspended, hundreds of flights cancelled, and some high-speed railway services halted. The central government allocated 40 million yuan (USD 5.9 million) in disaster relief funds for Zhejiang and Fujian.
Typhoon path and intensity
Typhoon Bavi had maximum sustained winds of 144 kph near its centre as it passed north of Taiwan on Saturday, according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration. It was expected to make landfall in Zhejiang before midnight Saturday or early Sunday and then move inland, according to China’s National Meteorological Centre.
Philippines: 17 killed in landslides
In the Philippines, a landslide triggered by monsoon rains intensified by Bavi hit a village in Malapatan town, Sarangani province, before dawn Friday, killing at least 10 villagers and leaving three missing, said Office of Civil Defence spokesperson Diego Mariano. Another landslide in Calanogas town, Lanao del Sur province, killed five people, with six missing. Two people drowned in floodwaters Wednesday in Bukidnon province. About 11,000 villagers moved to 77 emergency shelters in southern provinces, said deputy administrator Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV.
Taiwan: 87 injured, mass evacuations
As of Saturday morning, Taiwan reported at least 87 injuries from Typhoon Bavi, some from motorcycle accidents on slippery roads. Over 14,200 people were evacuated, including from Hualien county and Taichung city. Schools and offices were suspended across most of the island.
Japan: flights cancelled, warnings issued
In Japan’s Okinawa prefecture, local authorities warned of high waves, strong winds and storm surges, with more than 200 flights cancelled across the region, according to public broadcaster NHK. Strong winds and rain hit islands including Ishigaki.
