Millions Evacuated as Typhoon Bavi Slams China Coast

Typhoon Bavi was downgraded to a severe tropical storm upon making landfall in eastern China on Sunday. Authorities had previously evacuated approximately 1.72 million people in anticipation of the storm's arrival. Classes, work, and transportation were suspended, with over 300 flights canceled in Zhejiang province alone. Extensive disruptions also affected Shanghai, where 684 flights and 1,620 train services were canceled.

Severe weather had already impacted southern and central China in the preceding week, resulting in at least 39 deaths and overflowing rivers. As Bavi struck Zhejiang province, it brought fierce winds and heavy rain, uprooting trees and leading to flooded streets in cities like Wenzhou. Further north, torrential rain prompted evacuations of over 100,000 people in Beijing.

Before reaching China, Bavi had affected northern Taiwan and Japan's southwestern islands, causing power outages and toppling trees. The storm is now forecast to move northeast and gradually weaken. The intensification of tropical storms like Bavi is linked to warmer ocean temperatures, a phenomenon exacerbated by recent record-breaking June ocean heat.