Typhoon Bavi forces evacuation of nearly 2 million in eastern China

Typhoon Bavi struck eastern China on the night of 11 July, making its first landfall near Taizhou in Zhejiang province and a second near Yueqing shortly after. The storm carried sustained winds of about 144 km/h (Category 1) and a rain‑band roughly the size of France. Authorities evacuated roughly 1.7‑1.8 million people from Zhejiang, plus more than 100 000 from Fujian, another 100 000 from Beijing and about 34 000 from Shanghai, bringing the total close to two million. Schools, workplaces and outdoor activities were suspended and over 400 flights and dozens of train services were cancelled.

Emergency crews cleared fallen trees – more than 1 300 in Yueqing, over 700 uprooted – and responded to landslides and flooding that submerged streets to half a car‑tire’s depth. No immediate fatalities were reported in mainland China.

In Taiwan, Bavi passed north of the island, prompting the evacuation of over 14 000 people, the cancellation of 137 international and 62 domestic flights, and the reporting of 113‑134 injuries, mostly from falls on slick surfaces. The Philippines suffered landslides triggered by the storm‑enhanced monsoon, killing at least 17‑18 people and displacing thousands. Japan experienced strong winds and heavy rain but reported no deaths.

The storm follows Typhoon Maysak, which hit southern China a week earlier, highlighting a period of extreme weather in the region.