China Evacuates Over 1.7 Million As Typhoon Bavi Nears, Philippines Death Toll Reaches 17

Last Updated:July 11, 2026, 21:45 IST

China has evacuated more than 1.7 million people and issued high-level weather alerts as Typhoon Bavi approaches. The storm has already claimed at least 17 lives in Philippines.

China has evacuated more than 1.7 million people and stepped up emergency measures as Typhoon Bavi approaches its eastern coast after battering parts of Taiwan and Japan’s southern islands. The powerful storm has also been linked to at least 17 deaths in the Philippines.

According to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration, Bavi was moving north of Taiwan on Saturday with maximum sustained winds of 144 kmph (89 mph) near its centre. China’s National Meteorological Centre said the typhoon is expected to make landfall in Zhejiang province before midnight or in the early hours of Sunday before moving inland.

Authorities in Zhejiang had evacuated more than 1.7 million people by Saturday morning, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported. In neighbouring Shanghai, around 34,000 residents were relocated from high-risk areas by Saturday afternoon.

Preparations have also intensified in Fujian province, where coastal cities are bracing for the storm. In Ningde city, more than 3,700 people had been moved from vulnerable onshore areas by Friday evening, while over 17,000 emergency rescue personnel have been placed on standby across the province.

China’s National Meteorological Centre has issued an orange alert for the typhoon, the second-highest warning in its four-tier system. As a precaution, many schools and ferry services have been suspended, hundreds of flights cancelled and several high-speed railway services halted. State broadcaster CCTV also reported that the weather agency issued the country’s first red alert for rainstorms this year.

To support disaster response, Chinese authorities announced the allocation of 40 million yuan (USD 5.9 million) in central relief funds for typhoon prevention, emergency rescue and relief operations in Zhejiang and Fujian.

Before reaching Taiwan, Bavi intensified seasonal monsoon rains over the Philippines, triggering deadly landslides. Officials said at least 17 people have died, most of them in the country’s south.

The deadliest incident occurred in the coastal town of Malapatan in Sarangani province, where a landslide struck a village before dawn on Friday, killing at least 10 people and leaving three others missing, according to Office of Civil Defence spokesperson Diego Mariano.

Another landslide in Calanogas town in Lanao del Sur province claimed five lives, while six people remain missing. Two more people drowned in floodwaters on Wednesday in Bukidnon province, Mariano said.

Office of Civil Defence deputy administrator Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said around 11,000 residents had been evacuated to 77 emergency shelters, most of them in southern Philippine provinces affected by the stormy weather.

In Taiwan, authorities reported at least 113 injuries as of 7 pm on Saturday, with some people hurt while riding motorcycles on rain-soaked and windy roads. More than 14,200 residents have also been evacuated, including people from Hualien County and Taichung City. Schools and offices remained closed across most parts of the island.

Meanwhile, Japan’s southern Okinawa prefecture continued to experience strong winds, heavy rain and rough seas. Local authorities warned of high waves and storm surges, while public broadcaster NHK reported that more than 200 flights had been cancelled. Islands including Ishigaki were among those affected by the severe weather.

News world China Evacuates Over 1.7 Million As Typhoon Bavi Nears, Philippines Death Toll Reaches 17

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