More than 1.8 million people were evacuated in China on Saturday as Typhoon Bavi churned towards the eastern city of Wenzhou, forcing millions of working families to uproot their lives and halt their labor. The storm had already pummeled Japan's southern Sakishima island chain and brushed past northern Taiwan, leaving a trail of disruption and exposing the precarity of daily existence for vast populations.
Typhoon Bavi, still a potent risk despite slowing and weakening over cooler seas, carried a sheer volume of moisture in its rain bands, which stretched an area about the size of France. This immense weather system threatened widespread flooding and damage across densely populated coastal regions.
Maximum sustained winds reached 144 km per hour (90 mph), equivalent to Category 1 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. The National Meteorological Center reported the typhoon was approximately 200 km (124 miles) southeast of Wenling in Zhejiang province as of 0808 GMT.
The typhoon was forecast to make landfall around Wenzhou, a city home to some 10 million people, early on Sunday. This impending impact necessitated massive state-led evacuations.
The State's Response and Labor's Burden
State media confirmed that over 1.7 million people had been evacuated across Zhejiang province, where Wenzhou is located. An additional 100,000 people were moved in neighboring Fujian province, a testament to the scale of the state's intervention to manage the crisis.
In Wenzhou, 50-year-old resident Huang Xinghuan was observed buying groceries at a traditional wet market before its closure. He expressed a mix of worry and resignation, stating, "I'm a little worried, but I think it'll be OK. We've been through typhoons before. We'll get through it."
Huang's family had stocked about two to three days' worth of water, relying on the state's assurance that "supplies are well guaranteed now." This reliance highlights the dependence of working families on external systems during such disruptions.
While Japan and Taiwan reported no deaths directly from Bavi, 17 people died in the Philippines due to heavy rains from an enhanced southwest monsoon, worsened by Bavi's impact. This uneven toll underscores how environmental crises disproportionately affect regions with less robust infrastructure and resources.
Taiwan's fire department reported 87 injuries, predominantly falls from motorcycles or bicycles, or individuals being struck by objects. These incidents often reflect the conditions of daily life and transport for many working people.
Disruption and Vulnerability
The Taiwanese government evacuated more than 14,000 people, primarily from mountainous areas, as the island effectively shut down. Forecasts predicted almost 1 meter (3 feet) of rain in some regions, necessitating these precautions.
Most evacuees were from the north and east, with 920 international flights cancelled. This effectively closed Taiwan's main international airport at Taoyuan, outside the capital Taipei, and grounded all 282 domestic flights, halting the movement of both capital and labor.
Almost all cities and counties across Taiwan declared a typhoon holiday for Saturday, closing offices and schools. Yet, in Taipei, some restaurants and convenience stores remained open, demonstrating the continuous pressure on some workers to maintain operations even in hazardous conditions.
Yeh Mao-hsiung, 68, was out for a morning walk with his dog in downtown Taipei despite blustery wind and rain. He dismissed the storm's severity, saying, "It's OK, it's not that serious. It's just a little bit more wind." This perspective, while individual, reflects a common underestimation of systemic risks.
However, in Taipei's Beitou neighborhood, gusts of around 100 kph knocked down trees and swelled rivers, revealing the immediate physical threat. In Wenzhou, Chen Qiuqin, in her 60s, walked through steady rain to help her elderly parents prepare, expressing concern for their safety and property. Her actions illustrate the unpaid care labor that falls on working families during crises, managing vulnerabilities the system often overlooks.