China’s Second Typhoon in a Week Forces Nearly Two Million Evacuations

Typhoon Bavi makes landfall in eastern China after leaving destruction across parts of Asia

China has been hit by its second major typhoon in just one week, with authorities evacuating nearly two million people as Typhoon Bavi slammed into the country’s eastern coast, bringing powerful winds and torrential rainfall.

The massive storm, which stretches approximately 1,000 kilometres across at its widest point, first made landfall in the coastal city of Taizhou on Saturday evening before making a second landfall in Wenzhou several hours later.

Although Bavi has weakened from a typhoon into a severe tropical storm, officials warn that the huge amount of moisture it carries could still trigger widespread flooding and landslides.

Millions evacuated ahead of the storm

Chinese authorities ordered large-scale evacuations as a precautionary measure, moving more than 1.7 million residents from vulnerable areas in Zhejiang Province, with thousands more relocated from neighbouring regions.

Officials said the evacuations were carried out to guard against the worst-case scenario as forecasters predicted exceptionally heavy rainfall in eastern Zhejiang and northeastern Fujian provinces.

Schools, businesses and outdoor activities were suspended in several cities, while around 400 flights and dozens of train services were cancelled due to the dangerous weather conditions.

In Wenzhou, a city of around 10 million people, hundreds of thousands of residents were moved to safer locations as the storm approached.

Authorities in Beijing also evacuated around 100,000 people to reduce the risk to lives and property.

Deadly impact across Asia

Before reaching China, Typhoon Bavi battered parts of the Pacific, including Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, where it recorded wind speeds of up to 290 kilometres per hour.

The storm later swept through Japan’s Sakishima Islands, injuring at least five people and leaving thousands of households without electricity.

In Taiwan, authorities evacuated thousands of residents and warned of severe flooding and landslides after heavy rainfall, although the island escaped a direct hit.

The storm’s deadliest impact was recorded in the Philippines, where landslides triggered by heavy rains killed at least 17 people.

China still recovering from previous storm

The arrival of Bavi comes just days after Typhoon Maysak caused widespread destruction across southern China.

Maysak left at least 39 people dead, devastated agricultural communities and killed large numbers of livestock, causing significant economic losses.

The earlier storm also triggered two rare tornadoes in China’s Hubei Province, adding to the devastation.

Authorities remain on high alert

Meteorologists expect Bavi to continue weakening as it moves northwest across China, but officials remain concerned about flooding and landslides caused by the enormous amount of rainfall accompanying the storm.

Emergency services have been deployed across affected areas, and residents have been urged to stay indoors and follow official safety instructions.

The back-to-back storms have highlighted the growing challenges posed by extreme weather events across Asia and raised concerns about the region’s disaster preparedness.