Typhoon Bavi prompts evacuation of 1.8 million in China

Typhoon Bavi triggered mass evacuations across East Asia on Saturday, July 11, 2026, as it lashed northern Taiwan and Japan's southern islands while heading for a landfall in eastern China. The storm has already been blamed for at least 18 deaths in the Philippines from landslides and flooding.

The typhoon is expected to make landfall near the major coastal city of Wenzhou in Zhejiang province early on Sunday. Chinese authorities have undertaken one of the largest evacuations in recent years, moving more than 1.8 million people from vulnerable coastal areas. In Zhejiang alone, over 1.7 million people were evacuated, with additional evacuations in Fujian province and Shanghai. The government suspended classes, work, and transport, canceling hundreds of flights and train services.

In Taiwan, the storm brought life in northern and eastern regions to a near standstill for a second day. Although Bavi did not make direct landfall on the island, authorities had evacuated more than 14,000 people, primarily from mountainous areas like Hualien County, as a precaution against potential flooding and landslides. The government reported dozens of injuries, mostly from falls in slippery...