Typhoon Bavi makes landfall in eastern China, over 1 million evacuated

Typhoon Bavi made landfall in China's eastern Zhejiang province late on Saturday, prompting massive evacuations and widespread disruptions after lashing Japan's southern islands and Taiwan with heavy rain and strong winds. Authorities said the storm was expected to gradually weaken as it moved inland toward the northwest.Chinese officials evacuated more than 1.7 million people from vulnerable areas ahead of the typhoon's arrival, while Shanghai relocated around 34,000 residents from high-risk zones. Coastal cities in Fujian province also stepped up emergency measures, with thousands moved to safety and over 17,000 rescue personnel placed on standby.The national meteorological center issued an orange typhoon alert, the second-highest in China's four-tier warning system. As a precaution, authorities suspended classes, halted ferry operations, cancelled hundreds of flights and disrupted several high-speed rail services across affected regions.Bavi, packing maximum sustained winds of 144 kmph (89 mph) near its centre, tracked north of Taiwan before making landfall in Zhejiang. Meteorological officials said the storm would continue moving inland while steadily losing strength.Before reaching China, the typhoon swept across Japan's southern islands and Taiwan, bringing intense rainfall and powerful winds. In the Philippines, where Bavi intensified seasonal monsoon rains before moving north, at least 17 people were killed, most of them in landslides triggered by heavy rain.Bavi is the second typhoon to strike China in just over a week, following Typhoon Maysak, which made landfall in the country's south last weekend, keeping disaster response agencies on high alert along the eastern coastline.Catch the latest world news and top headlines. Download the TOI App.