China Braces for 1,000-km Typhoon Bavi, Evacuating Hundreds of Thousands Near Wenzhou
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jul 11
China Braces for 1,000-km Typhoon Bavi, Evacuating Hundreds of Thousands Near Wenzhou
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jul 11
Summary
Sunday landfall near Wenzhou is expected as Typhoon Bavi closes in on eastern China, with authorities moving hundreds of thousands from vulnerable parts of Zhejiang and Fujian.
A Category 1 storm with 144 km/h winds, Bavi still carries huge moisture bands that officials say could dump exceptionally heavy rain on eastern Zhejiang and northeastern Fujian.
Wenzhou — a city of about 10 million — lies close to the projected path, while flights have been canceled, schools suspended and residents stripped supermarket shelves to stock supplies.
Bavi already killed 17 people in the Philippines and injured at least five in Japan after forming as a 290 km/h super typhoon; Taiwan also evacuated thousands amid landslide fears.
The threat comes days after Typhoon Maysak killed at least 39 people in southern China, deepening concern over fresh flooding and agricultural losses from a second major storm in a week.
With El Niño fueling monster typhoons like Bavi, is this the dangerous new normal for the Pacific region?
As back-to-back superstorms batter Asia, are current coastal city defense strategies becoming obsolete?
Typhoon Bavi’s 2026 Rampage: China Landfall, Regional Preparedness, and the Cost of Extreme Weather
Overview
Typhoon Bavi made landfall near Wenzhou, China, on July 12, 2026, after slowing and weakening over cooler seas. Despite this, the storm still posed a potent risk due to its massive rain bands, which carried enough moisture to threaten widespread and heavy rainfall across the region. The Chinese government responded with visible emergency preparations, and residents took personal precautions, creating a sense of public preparedness. These coordinated efforts helped reduce anxiety as the community faced the storm’s immediate impact, highlighting the importance of proactive measures in managing severe weather events.