Nearly two million people were evacuated across eastern China as Typhoon Bavi, the most powerful storm to strike the mainland this year, unleashed its fury. In Taiwan, 134 individuals suffered injuries, their daily routines shattered by the storm's passage. This massive disruption highlights the fragility of settled life when confronted by overwhelming natural forces.
Taiwan's fire department confirmed the 134 injuries. Most resulted from falling off motorbikes, slipping, or being struck by objects. No deaths were reported on the island. The transport ministry there cancelled 137 international flights on Sunday. Another 62 domestic trips were also grounded, halting movement for countless travelers.
Bavi struck Zhejiang's coastal city of Yuhuan late Saturday, 1520 GMT. It made a second landfall in Yueqing, part of Wenzhou, around midnight. Ahead of its arrival, nearly 2 million people, predominantly in Zhejiang province, were displaced from their homes.
Yueqing resident Li Liangxing described the terror. "When it made landfall last night, the winds were very strong," he said. "We could hear roof tiles and tree branches falling." He acknowledged the fear, but added, "we live by the sea, so we're used to it." Yet, he gestured toward a flooded canal, stating he'd "never seen the water rise so high." "There used to be a walkway there, but now it's underwater," he noted.
The Human Cost
Over 1,300 trees fell across Yueqing alone. More than 700 of these were uprooted entirely. Flooding reached roughly half the height of a vehicle tire in some areas. Emergency crews deployed excavators and chainsaws on Sunday. They worked to clear waterlogged streets, choked with fallen trees. State broadcaster CCTV showed a landslide in the city’s mountainous north. Large boulders tumbled onto a mountain road, while swollen river waters submerged nearby trees.
As Bavi approached China, it passed northern Taiwan on Saturday. It brought strong winds and driving rain across much of the island. One area in northern Miaoli county received nearly 80 cm, or 31 inches, of rain.
Infrastructure Under Strain
China's transport networks faced widespread disruption. In Hangzhou, Zhejiang’s provincial capital, two major train stations suspended all services. Xiaoshan International Airport cancelled 327 flights. Neighboring Shanghai saw even greater cancellations. State-backed The Paper reported 1,620 train trips and 684 flights were cancelled. This paralyzed movement for millions, demonstrating the vulnerability of interconnected systems.
Expert Warnings, Local Realities
Benjamin Horton, dean of the School of Energy and Environment at the City University of Hong Kong, issued a warning. Regions near Bavi’s path could receive several hundred millimeters of rain in days, he stated. This raises the risk of flooding, landslides, and urban inundation. Horton emphasized the storm's lingering threat. "Even if the storm weakens after landfall, its large circulation can continue to generate destructive weather hundreds of kilometres inland," he explained. He also highlighted the challenge of "rapid intensification," which "reduces preparation time for communities and emergency managers." These events become "particularly challenging," he concluded.
Scientists have warned China could face more extreme weather this year. This comes with the expected emergence of the El Nino weather pattern. El Nino can drive up temperatures and shift typhoon tracks westward toward the country's coast. Such abstract warnings from distant experts often fail to convey the immediate, devastating impact on local populations.