Typhoon Bavi bears down on China's east coast today, following a week of deadly storms that have already claimed 50 lives across two other parts of the nation. This powerful typhoon, boasting maximum sustained winds of 162 kilometers per hour (101 miles per hour), is set to bring further disruption. It's a populace already reeling from recent natural calamities.
The storm's current northwest track will first take it over some remote Japanese islands before passing to Taiwan's north on Saturday. Heavy rains are expected to lash the island of 23 million people from Friday night into Saturday. In Taipei, Taiwan's capital, schools were closed today. Fishing boats crowded together, tied up in northern Taiwan ports. Many flights to Japan, Hong Kong, and other destinations have been canceled through Saturday, according to Taiwan's Central News Agency. Some flights, however, remain scheduled.
The Human Cost
Bavi is forecast to make landfall Saturday night south of Shanghai, near the border between Fujian and Zhejiang provinces. This new threat comes as southern China grapples with the aftermath of Tropical Storm Maysak. Authorities said Maysak killed 39 people in flooding. Days of record rainfall in Guangxi led to breached reservoirs. A dramatic dam collapse in Hengzhou, for instance, inundated a wide area with fast-flowing muddy water. The floods left people stranded on upper floors of buildings for days. Many were without power, awaiting rescue.
Separately, 11 individuals died in central China when severe thunderstorms and tornadoes struck Hubei province Monday night. Just three days ago, a landslide, unrelated to the storms, killed 21 forestry workers in western China's Gansu province. This adds to the mounting death toll from various disasters.
State Mobilization
The regime has mobilized significant resources in anticipation of Bavi's arrival. More than 17,000 people were evacuated in Zhejiang province, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. A staggering 170,000 rescue workers have been placed on standby, ready to respond to the typhoon's impact. Fujian province has already suspended some ferry routes due to strong winds and rough seas. It's ordered fishing boats to return to port.
Earlier this week, Bavi had weakened from supertyphoon strength. It had previously brought violent winds to Saipan and other U.S. territories in the Pacific. The relentless succession of powerful weather events highlights the vulnerability of the region's populations. It also underscores the immense challenges faced by the state in protecting its people and infrastructure. The costs to the native populations, both human and economic, continue to mount.