Typhoon Bavi triggers massive floods and evacuations across northern China

Typhoon Bavi, the strongest storm to hit mainland China this year, made landfall on the eastern coast before moving northward. The system brought torrential rain that caused severe flooding in Hebei and Liaoning provinces, with water levels exceeding two metres and roads submerged. In Kuancheng County (Hebei) about 1,800 residents were stranded as cars were swept away, while Liaoning’s capital Shenyang saw a lighthouse topple into floodwaters and a red flash‑flood alert was issued. Authorities evacuated more than 260,000 people from the northeast, suspended schools and public transport, and ordered businesses to close.

The storm also affected Zhejiang, where over 1.7 million people were moved, cancelled more than 1,200 flights and caused landslides. In the Philippines, Bavi (named Inday) left 18 dead and 12 missing, injuring thousands. North Korea issued a warning urging “maximum vigilance” as the storm’s remnants approached the Korean Peninsula. The event highlights the region’s vulnerability to extreme weather and the strain on emergency response systems.