Typhoon Bavi makes landfall in eastern China’s Taizhou after nearly 2 million evacuated
By Go Nakamura, Xihao Jiang and Ella Cao
WENZHOU, China, July 11 (Reuters) – Typhoon Bavi made landfall in the eastern Chinese coastal city of Taizhou late on Saturday. Approximately 2 million people were evacuated here. It previously shattered the Sakishima island chain in southern Japan and passed northern Taiwan.
Even as Bavi continues to slow and weaken on its northwest track, the typhoon still poses a strong risk due to the volume of moisture it traps within rainbands (the size of France from end to end).
When Bavi made landfall around 11:20 p.m. local time (1520 GMT), it had maximum sustained winds of about 144 km per hour (90 mph), equivalent to a Category 1 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, according to the National Center for Meteorology.
State media said more than 1.7 million people were evacuated in Zhejiang province, where Taizhou is located, more than 100,000 from neighboring Fujian province and Beijing, and about 34,000 from Shanghai.
Huang
Huang said his family had stocked up on water for about two to three days. “I think stocks are well assured now. There is no need to panic or stockpile too much food or other supplies,” he added.
While Japan and Taiwan have not reported any deaths from the typhoon so far, 17 people have died in the Philippines due to heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon rains, which were worsened by Bavi’s impact.
Taiwan’s fire department said 113 people were injured, mostly from falling off motorcycles or bicycles, as well as from people falling or being hit by objects.
TAIWAN WAS PROTECTED FROM THE WORST OF BAVI
In Taiwan, the government evacuated more than 14,000 people, mostly from mountainous areas, as the island was closed due to the approach of Bavi to the north.
Bavi did not make landfall in Taiwan, but the government took measures to prevent loss of life due to forecasts of nearly 1 meter (3 feet) of rain in some areas.
Most evacuees were in the northern and eastern regions; 920 international flights were canceled and all 282 domestic flights were effectively closed, as well as Taiwan’s main international airport at Taoyuan outside the capital Taipei.
Nearly all cities and counties in Taiwan declared a typhoon holiday on Saturday, closing all offices and schools that might be open over the weekend, but some restaurants and markets in Taipei remained open.
The main north-south high-speed rail line also remained in service, but service was reduced.
Some people were still on the streets in downtown Taipei due to heavy winds and rain.
“It’s okay, it’s not that serious,” said Yeh Mao-hsiung, 68, who was out for a morning walk with his dog. “Just a little more wind.”
But in Taipei’s Beitou neighborhood, at the foot of the mountains surrounding the city, winds of up to 100 kilometers per hour toppled trees and swelled rivers.
In Wenzhou, Chen Qiuqin, in his 60s, walked through incessant rain on his way to his parents’ house to help them prepare for the typhoon, but said he was not too worried given the government’s preparations.
“I was worried about the flower pots on my mother’s balcony, so I will help move them inside. My parents are both elderly and home alone, so I wasn’t comfortable,” she said.
(Reporting by Go Nakamura, Xihao Jiang and Ella Cao; Additional reporting by Angie Teo and Yimou Lee in Taipei, Joseph Campbell in Ishigaki, Japan, and Karen Lema in Manila; Writing by Ben Blanchard and Chang-Ran Kim; Editing by Kim Coghill, William Mallard, Aidan Lewis)
