Typhoon Bavi Forces Mass Evacuations Across China as Death Toll Rises

More than 600,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in eastern China as Typhoon Bavi barrels toward the densely populated coast, bringing torrential rains and powerful winds that have already claimed at least 17 lives in the Philippines.

Mass Evacuations Underway

Chinese authorities confirmed on Saturday that more than half a million people were evacuated in the eastern Zhejiang province alone, with another 100,000 residents moved to safety in neighboring Fujian province. The national weather agency issued an orange typhoon alert — the second-highest on China’s four-level warning system — as the storm continued its northwest track toward the mainland.

Bavi is expected to make landfall in Wenzhou, a densely populated city in Zhejiang province, in the early hours of Sunday. The city, home to more than 9 million people, has been bracing for impact with hundreds of flights cancelled, rail services reduced, and schools and ferry services suspended across the region.

Regional Impact and Casualties

The typhoon’s destructive path has already been felt across multiple countries. In the Philippines, at least 17 people were killed after heavy rains triggered landslides overnight on Friday, worsened by Bavi’s influence on the southwest monsoon. In Taiwan, where the storm is expected to sweep past on Saturday, at least 36 people have been injured — primarily motorcyclists navigating slippery roads in heavy rain and high winds.

More than 14,000 people were evacuated across Taiwan by Saturday morning, particularly from the city of Taichung and Hualien county. Schools, offices, and most restaurants across the island have been closed as a precautionary measure. Meanwhile, more than 200 flights were cancelled across Japan as authorities in Okinawa prefecture warned of high waves, strong winds, and storm surges.

Compounding Disasters

The typhoon threat comes as China’s southern regions of Hainan and Guangxi are still reeling from the effects of Tropical Storm Maysak earlier this week. At least 39 people died in the city of Nanning after a breached dam sent torrents of water through the streets, highlighting the vulnerability of infrastructure to extreme weather events.

In Ningde city, Fujian province, more than 3,700 people were evacuated from high-risk onshore areas by Friday evening, with authorities placing more than 17,000 emergency rescue workers on standby. The scale of the mobilization reflects the lessons learned from previous typhoon seasons, where delayed evacuations led to higher casualty counts.

On the Ground in Wenzhou

Despite the looming threat, some residents expressed cautious optimism. “I’m a little worried, but I think it’ll be OK,” Wenzhou resident Huang Xinghuan, 50, told Reuters while buying groceries at a traditional wet market before it closed ahead of the typhoon. His family had stocked about two to three days’ worth of water, and food supplies remain guaranteed. “We’ve been through typhoons before. We’ll get through it,” he added.

Although Bavi has significantly weakened since it thundered through the US Pacific islands on Monday, meteorologists warn it remains a significant risk due to the large volumes of moisture it carries in its rain bands. The storm’s downgrade from super typhoon status does not eliminate the threat of flash flooding and landslides in mountainous regions.

Why It Matters

The scale of Typhoon Bavi’s impact underscores the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in the Asia-Pacific region. Climate scientists have long warned that warming ocean temperatures contribute to more powerful tropical cyclones, and Bavi’s rapid intensification earlier this week fits that pattern. With hundreds of thousands displaced and critical infrastructure at risk, the economic and humanitarian toll is expected to be substantial.

China’s emergency response system is being tested at a time when the country is already managing the aftermath of Tropical Storm Maysak. The back-to-back disasters highlight the compounding nature of climate-driven extreme weather and the growing challenge for disaster management agencies across the region.

Key Takeaways

• Over 600,000 people evacuated across Zhejiang and Fujian provinces ahead of Typhoon Bavi’s landfall
• At least 17 killed in Philippines landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains worsened by the typhoon
• 36 injured in Taiwan, 14,000+ evacuated; schools and businesses closed island-wide
• 200+ flights cancelled in Japan’s Okinawa prefecture amid storm surge warnings
• China still recovering from Tropical Storm Maysak, which killed 39 in Nanning after dam breach

What to Watch Next

Bavi is expected to make landfall in the early hours of Sunday local time. Key developments to monitor include the storm’s actual intensity at landfall, the effectiveness of evacuation protocols, and any reports of infrastructure damage or casualties. The economic impact on shipping and manufacturing in one of China’s most industrialized regions will also be closely watched by global markets.