China Evacuates 600,000 as Typhoon Bavi Approaches

On Saturday, China evacuated more than 600,000 people ahead of Typhoon Bavi, which is expected to hit the major eastern Chinese city of Wenzhou. Earlier, the storm lashed the southern Japanese archipelago of Sakishima with heavy rains and strong winds and passed just north of Taiwan.

Although Bavi continues to slow down and weaken as it moves northwest over cooler waters, it still poses a serious threat due to the enormous amount of moisture in its rain bands. From one end to the other, these bands span an area roughly the size of France.

Forecasts indicate the typhoon is expected to make landfall near Wenzhou, home to approximately 10 million people, early Sunday morning.

State media reported that more than half a million people have been evacuated in Zhejiang Province, where Wenzhou is located. In the neighboring province of Fujian, more than 100,000 residents have left their homes.

"I'm a little worried, but I think it'll be OK. We've been through typhoons before. We'll get through it", said 50-year-old Wenzhou resident Huang Xingchuan, who was buying groceries at a traditional market before it closed.

According to Huang, his family has stockpiled enough water to last two to three days. "I think supplies are well guaranteed now. There's no need to panic or stockpile a lot of food or other supplies", he added.

Neither Japan nor Taiwan has reported any casualties related to the typhoon so far. In the Philippines, however, 17 people have died as a result of heavy rains brought by the intensifying southwest monsoon, a situation further exacerbated by Typhoon Bavi.

(Reuters, luc)