Typhoon Bavi Hits Japan as Taiwan Evacuates Thousands

Typhoon Bavi struck the southern Japanese archipelago of Sakishima on Saturday with heavy rain and strong winds and continued toward Taiwan. Authorities warned of the risk of flooding and landslides.

The maximum sustained wind speed near its center reached 144 km/h. Authorities warned of wind gusts of up to 198 km/h.

Flights and ferry service on Ishigaki Island, a popular tourist destination, remained suspended throughout Saturday. Airlines canceled 345 flights, and more than 24,000 households in the Okinawa prefecture were left without power.

In neighboring Taiwan, the government evacuated more than 14,000 people, mostly from mountainous areas. Although Bavi is gradually weakening and will not directly hit Taiwan, the government is taking precautionary measures to prevent loss of life. Forecasts suggest some areas could receive nearly 1 m of rainfall.

A total of 920 international flights and all 280 domestic flights have been canceled.

Nearly all cities and counties in Taiwan have declared Saturday a typhoon holiday, closing government offices and schools that might otherwise have been open over the weekend. The main high-speed rail line connecting the north and south remained in operation, though with a limited number of trains.

In downtown Taipei, gusty winds blew and rain fell, but some people were still out on the streets. In the Beitou district, at the foot of the mountains surrounding Taipei, gusts of wind reaching speeds of approximately 100 km/h uprooted trees and caused river levels to rise.

Forecasts indicate Bavi is expected to hit the eastern Chinese city of Wenzhou, home to 10 million people, early Sunday morning.

(Reuters, luc)