China Faces Second Major Typhoon 'Bavi' Within a Week, Evacuating Millions

Taizhou. China has experienced its second powerful typhoon within a week. Approximately 2 million people have been evacuated from affected areas due to the risk posed by the typhoon named 'Bavi'.

The typhoon, which spans 1,000 kilometers across its widest part, equivalent to the size of France, made landfall in the coastal city of Taizhou on Saturday evening. It then made a second landfall in Wenzhou around midnight.

After causing devastation in Japan's remote islands, the typhoon moved past the northern tip of Taiwan, bringing heavy rainfall. Previously, at least 17 people died in the Philippines due to landslides caused by this typhoon. Although the typhoon has weakened into a severe tropical storm, the risk remains due to excessive moisture within its rain bands.

It is estimated that its intensity will gradually decrease as it moves northwest. According to Chinese state media, the center of the typhoon reached the city of Hangzhou in Zhejiang province by Sunday morning. Meteorologists predict the typhoon will move towards the northern Yellow Sea via eastern Anhui on Monday and the Shandong Peninsula on Tuesday.

Over 1.7 million people in Zhejiang province and thousands in neighboring provinces have been evacuated. Schools, businesses, and outdoor activities have been suspended in Zhejiang, and 400 flights and dozens of train services have been canceled.

Millions of residents in Wenzhou city, with a population of about 10 million, have also been relocated as the city is near the typhoon's path. Beijing had ordered 100,000 people to be evacuated to safety to avoid the risk.

'Bavi' initially appeared as a powerful super typhoon, striking Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands last Monday with winds of 290 kilometers per hour. Its speed weakened to 144 kilometers per hour as it moved across the Pacific Ocean.

It then struck the Sakishima Islands in the Ryukyu Island chain between Japan's main island and Taiwan, where at least five people were injured and thousands were left without electricity.

Although Taiwan was not directly hit, thousands of people were forced to leave their homes due to the increased risk of landslides following heavy rainfall. No deaths have been reported in either country so far.

Taiwanese authorities had warned that 'Bavi' could bring up to 1 meter of rain. Dozens of flights have been canceled across the region, and schools have suspended classes. Supermarket shelves were emptied as residents began stocking up on food and essential supplies.

Parts of southern China have not yet recovered from the devastation of Typhoon 'Maysak' earlier this week. 'Maysak' caused at least 39 deaths and significant damage to the agricultural sector due to the loss of a large number of livestock. It also caused two rare tornadoes in the central Hubei province.