Typhoon Bavi weakens after landfall in China; 2.2 million evacuated

Typhoon Bavi weakened to a severe tropical storm after making landfall in Zhejiang province in eastern China on Sunday morning, with maximum sustained winds of around 101 kilometers per hour. The system prompted one of the largest mass evacuations in response to a storm, with approximately 2.2 million people evacuated from Zhejiang province alone. Additional evacuations across neighboring regions brought the total to nearly 2.7 million: over 290,000 from Shanghai, more than 180,000 from Fujian, and over 100,000 from Beijing. Classes, work, and transport were suspended across eastern China, with more than 400 flights and dozens of train services cancelled in Zhejiang province.

Before reaching China, Typhoon Bavi affected multiple territories across East Asia over a span of days. Taiwan was largely spared direct landfall but experienced strong winds and heavy rains, with at least 134 people injured on the island by Saturday morning, primarily from falls on motorcycles and bicycles or being struck by objects. Japan's remote Sakishima island chain in Okinawa was pummeled with violent winds and heavy rain, with more than 18,000 households losing power across the region. The Philippines suffered the highest death toll, with 17 people confirmed killed by landslides triggered by enhanced monsoon rains worsened by Bavi's influence, concentrated on the southern island of Mindanao; an additional nine people remained missing as of Saturday.

The typhoon spanned approximately 1,000 kilometers at its widest point, roughly the width of France. It had weakened from supertyphoon strength earlier in the week when it affected U.S. Pacific territories including Guam and Saipan. Authorities took extensive precautions: Taiwan evacuated over 14,000 people from mountainous areas at risk of landslides, and Chinese officials mobilized 170,000 rescue workers in Zhejiang province. Residents across the region reinforced buildings, taped windows, and stocked supplies ahead of the storm's arrival.

Typhoon Bavi's arrival followed a particularly destructive week in China marked by multiple weather disasters. Tropical Storm Maysak had killed at least 39 people in flooding in Guangxi province, while severe thunderstorms and tornadoes claimed 11 lives in Hubei province, and a separate landslide unrelated to storms killed 21 forestry workers in Gansu province. Climate scientists noted that record-warm ocean temperatures and the return of El Niño in 2026 contributed to tropical storm intensification by adding moisture to the atmosphere.