storm baavi hits the ground
Typhoon Bavi made landfall late Saturday in eastern China’s coastal city of Taizhou, where about 2 million people were evacuated, before ravaging Japan’s southern Sakishima island chain and crossing northern Taiwan.
Even as Bavi continues to slow and weaken on its northwestern path, the storm still poses a powerful threat due to the enormous amount of moisture within its rain band, which is equivalent to the size of France from end to end.
According to the National Meteorological Center, Bavi had maximum sustained winds of about 144 km per hour (90 mph), equivalent to a Category 1 on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale, when it made landfall around 11:20 p.m. local time (1520 GMT).
State media said more than 1.7 million people were evacuated from Zhejiang province, where Taizhou is located, along with more than 100,000 from neighboring Fujian province and Beijing, and about 34,000 from Shanghai.
“I’m a little worried, but I think it’ll be OK. We’ve been through typhoons before. We’ll get through this,” said Wenzhou resident Huang Jinghuan, 50, who was buying groceries at a traditional wet market before the typhoon closed.
Huang said his family has stocked up on water for about two to three days. “I think supplies are now well guaranteed. There is no need to panic or hoard too much food or other supplies,” he said.
While Japan and Taiwan have so far reported no deaths from the typhoon, 17 people died in the Philippines due to heavy rains caused by the southwest monsoon worsened by Bavi’s impact.
Taiwan’s fire department said 113 people were injured, most of them due to falls from motorcycles or bicycles, as well as injuries caused by people falling or hitting objects.
Taiwan saved Bavi from the worst situation
In Taiwan, the government evacuated more than 14,000 people, mainly from mountainous areas as the island closed to access north to Bavi.
While Bavi did not make landfall in Taiwan, with nearly 1 meter (3 ft) of rain forecast in some areas, the government took precautions to prevent loss of life.
Most of the evacuees were in areas in the north and east, with 920 international flights cancelled, effectively shutting down Taiwan’s main international airport at Taoyuan, outside the capital Taipei, as well as all 282 domestic flights.
Nearly all cities and counties in Taiwan declared a typhoon holiday on Saturday, closing all offices and schools that were open over the weekend, although some restaurants and convenience stores in Taipei remained open.
The main north–south high-speed rail line also remained operational, but with reduced service.
Some people were still on the streets in downtown Taipei, despite high winds and rain.
“It’s OK, it’s not that serious,” said Ye Mao-hsiung, 68, who was out on a morning walk with his dog. “It’s just a little more wind.”
But in Taipei’s Beitou neighborhood at the foot of the mountains surrounding the city, gusts of about 100 kilometers per hour downed trees and flooded rivers.
In Wenzhou, Chen Qiqin, 60, walked through persistent rain to her parents’ home to help them prepare for the typhoon, but she said she wasn’t too worried given the government’s preparations.
She said, “I was worried about the flower pots on my mother’s balcony, so I am going to help her move them inside. Both my parents are elderly and they are alone at home, so I was not comfortable.”
