Typhoon Bavi triggers massive evacuations and flooding across northern China

Typhoon Bavi, the strongest storm to strike mainland China this year, made landfall in Zhejiang province before moving northward into Liaoning and Hebei. The storm’s warm core allowed it to retain moisture, producing intense rain that forced the evacuation of more than 260,000 people in Liaoning and about 1.7 million in Zhejiang. In Hebei’s Kuancheng county, water levels rose above two metres, submerging roads, sweeping cars away and leaving around 1,800 villagers stranded. Schools, public venues and transport services were suspended, and a lighthouse in Shenyang toppled a high‑voltage line that floated through flood‑water.

Authorities raised red‑alert flood warnings in Liaoning and issued multiple weather alerts for Jilin, Shandong, Jiangsu and Anhui. Videos showed residents swimming and paddle‑boarding along flooded streets. The storm also caused fatalities in the Philippines (18 deaths) and injuries in Taiwan (135). In addition, Japanese AI firm Spectee highlighted its disaster‑mapping platform, Spectee Pro, which aggregates social‑media, satellite and sensor data to visualise such events in real time.

The widespread flooding has disrupted power, communications and air travel, with hundreds of flights canceled. Emergency crews are prioritising relocation of residents, repair of damaged infrastructure and provision of relief supplies.