Huge typhoon Bavi is heading towards China: Army on standby, 600,000 people evacuated

Although Bavi continues to slow and weaken on its northwesterly path over cooler seas, the typhoon still poses a potential threat due to the vast amount of moisture it retains within its rain belts, roughly the size of France from one end to the other.

Bavi is forecast to make landfall around Wenzhou, an area home to about 10 million people, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

State media reported that more than half a million people were evacuated from Zhejiang province, where Wenzhou is located, and more than 100,000 in neighboring Fujian province.

– I’m a little worried, but I think it will be okay. Već we have been through many typhoons. We will get through it – said Wenzhou resident Huang Xinghuan (50) while buying groceries at the traditional market before it was closed due to the typhoon.

Huang said his family was supplied with water for two to three days.

– I think we secured supplies. There is no need to panic or stockpile a lot of food and other necessities – he added.

Japan and Taiwan have so far reported no deaths as a result of the typhoon’s passage, but in the Philippines 17 people died as a result of heavy rains brought by the intensified southwest monsoon, aggravated by the impact of Bavi.

Taiwan’s fire brigade reported that 87 people were injured, mostly from falls from motorcycles or bicycles or from slipping or falling or being hit by an object.