BEIJING (AP) - A powerful typhoon, Typhoon Bavi, was approaching China's east coast on Friday, marking the latest severe weather event in a turbulent week that has already resulted in the deaths of 50 individuals across two regions of the country.
With maximum sustained winds reaching 162 kilometers per hour (101 miles per hour), Typhoon Bavi was initially projected to bypass Taiwan, but heavy rains were anticipated on the island of 23 million residents from Friday night through Saturday. As a precaution, schools in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, were closed, and fishing vessels were secured tightly in northern Taiwan's ports. Numerous flights to destinations like Japan and Hong Kong were canceled through Saturday, according to Taiwan's Central News Agency.
The typhoon's current northwest trajectory is likely to move it over some remote Japanese islands before it passes north of Taiwan on Saturday. Forecasts suggest that Bavi will make landfall Saturday night near Shanghai, specifically close to the border between Fujian and Zhejiang provinces. In preparation for the storm, officials reported that over 17,000 people had been evacuated in Zhejiang, with an impressive 170,000 rescue workers placed on standby, as reported by the official Xinhua News Agency. Meanwhile, Fujian province announced the suspension of various ferry routes due to the strong winds and turbulent sea conditions and advised fishing boats to seek shelter in ports.
Typhoon Bavi had previously exhibited supertyphoon strength earlier in the week when it caused severe weather disruptions, including violent winds impacting Saipan and other U.S. territories in the Pacific.
Compounding the storm's impact, Chinese authorities conveyed that 39 people had tragically died due to flooding attributed to Tropical Storm Maysak, which had inundated parts of the Guangxi region for several days with unprecedented rainfall. The heavy rains caused reservoirs to overflow, leading to a catastrophic loss where part of a dam in Hengzhou collapsed, unleashing fast-flowing muddy waters that engulfed nearby areas. Many residents found themselves stranded on the second and third floors of their buildings for days without power, which delayed rescue operations.
Additionally, in Hubei province, severe thunderstorms and tornadoes struck on Monday night, taking the lives of 11 individuals. Furthermore, a landslide accident in Gansu province, unrelated to the storms, resulted in the deaths of 21 forestry workers earlier in the week, underscoring the diverse challenges posed by extreme weather conditions beyond just typhoons.
