Typhoon Bavi made landfall in eastern China early Sunday, following a path that brought strong winds and heavy rain to Taiwan and Japan's southern islands. The storm, which intensified monsoon rains in the Philippines, has been blamed for at least 17 deaths in that country.
As of Sunday morning, Bavi was forecast to move toward Zhejiang province in eastern China, with China's National Meteorological Center predicting landfall in the early hours. The agency had previously issued an orange typhoon alert, the second-highest of its four-tier system, and the first red alert for rainstorms of the year.
In preparation for the storm, cities in southeastern China, including Ningde in Fujian province, began relocating residents from high-risk areas. By Friday evening, over 3,700 people had been moved, and authorities in Fujian province placed more than 17,000 emergency rescue workers on standby. Numerous schools and ferry services were suspended, and hundreds of flights were canceled, with some high-speed rail services also halted.
Earlier, Taiwan braced for the typhoon, which was predicted to pass north of the island. The Central Weather Administration reported maximum sustained winds of 144 kph (89 mph) near the storm's center. By Saturday morning, Taiwan's Central Emergency Operation Center had recorded at least 36 injuries, many occurring on slippery roads. Approximately 14,210 people had been evacuated across the island, and schools and offices in most areas were suspended for Saturday.
Japan's southern islands, particularly in the Okinawa prefecture, experienced high waves, strong winds, and storm surges. Over 200 flights were canceled across the region, and islands like Ishigaki saw strong winds and rain.
In the Philippines, the typhoon's intensification of seasonal monsoon rains contributed to deadly landslides and flooding. In the southern province of Sarangani, a landslide in Malapatan killed at least 10 villagers and left three missing. Another landslide in Lanao del Sur province claimed five lives, with six others missing. Two people drowned in floodwaters in Bukidnon province earlier in the week. Approximately 11,000 villagers had moved to emergency shelters in recent days due to the severe weather.