Typhoon Bavi Puts Taiwan and China on High Alert With Strong Winds, Flood Risk and Mass Preparations

Taiwan and eastern China are bracing for Typhoon Bavi as the powerful storm moves across the western Pacific, raising fears of destructive winds, torrential rain, flooding and major travel disruption. Forecasts suggest Bavi could become one of the strongest storms to affect the region in years, with winds reported near 200 km/h and a massive storm system stretching nearly 1,000 km wide. Taiwan has taken precautionary steps as heavy rain and strong winds approach, with flight disruptions, school closures in parts of the island and fishing vessels moving to safer waters. Authorities have also kept military personnel and emergency teams ready to respond to flooding, landslides and storm-related damage. In China, coastal provinces including Fujian and Zhejiang are preparing for possible landfall, with ferry routes suspended, fishing boats recalled and thousands of residents moved from vulnerable areas. The storm comes at a difficult time for China, which has already faced deadly flooding and severe weather in recent weeks, making officials more cautious about the risk of additional rainfall. Meteorologists have warned that Bavi’s wide circulation could channel moisture far inland, bringing heavy rain even to areas away from the direct landfall zone. The biggest concerns now are coastal storm surge, flash floods, landslides, transport shutdowns and pressure on rescue services if the storm slows or intensifies near land. While typhoons are common in the western Pacific during this season, Bavi’s size, wind strength and projected rainfall have made it a serious regional threat. Authorities in Taiwan and China are urging people to follow official weather warnings, avoid coastal areas, secure homes and delay unnecessary travel until the storm passes.