Super Typhoon Bavi Hits Taiwan and Southern China

On Thursday, Super Typhoon Bavi gained strength while moving across the Pacific, making landfall in Taiwan and parts of southern China. The storm is bringing intense rainfall—some areas could see several feet—and wind gusts reaching up to 124 miles per hour.

Projected paths indicate that Bavi will move over Taiwan and is expected to hit Fujian province in China by Saturday night.

This massive storm, now spanning over 620 miles, is set to strike China just days after Tropical Storm Maysak, which had already caused significant flooding in Hengzhou province, resulting in the deaths of 39 individuals.

If Bavi follows the predicted path over northern Taiwan, it could become the largest storm the region has faced. In light of this, Taiwan has already canceled flights for Saturday and is securing fishing boats. Meanwhile, Japan’s Okinawa prefecture has alerted residents to be cautious about potential storm impacts.

Shambo Feng, a cyclone researcher at Imperial College London, emphasized the importance of closely monitoring Bavi. He noted that its long development in warm Pacific waters has allowed it to build up significant energy and moisture. “If it makes landfall or nears coastal areas, the damage could be severe,” he cautioned, stressing that even a minor shift in its trajectory could lead to serious consequences.

China’s state-operated Global Times reported that the National Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters has activated a Level IV emergency response for the regions most likely to be impacted, which include Fujian and Zhejiang provinces.

A super typhoon generally compares to a Category 4 or 5 hurricane, featuring sustained winds of 115 to 120 miles per hour. According to Chinese meteorological standards, Bavi has maintained super typhoon intensity for over 108 hours and continues to strengthen.

Meteorologists are hopeful that Bavi will begin to weaken upon entering China’s coastal waters Thursday night. There’s a chance it could be downgraded to a regular typhoon before landfall, but the risk of flooding remains a serious concern. Heavy rain is anticipated to begin in Taiwan starting Friday.

In another Global Times piece, it was noted that preparations in China now involve stockpiling antivenom, recognizing that flooding from such storms often brings venomous snakes into urban areas.

This concern is heightened in the aftermath of Typhoon Meisak in Hengzhou province, where floods recently overwhelmed a snake farm, displacing about 900 snake specimens, many of which were venomous.

A tragic incident was reported on Wednesday when a man in his 40s in Yunbiao died after a snake bite. He had become unconscious by the time rescuers located him, and poor road conditions delayed timely medical treatment.

To mitigate risk, health officials are using loudspeakers and social media to advise residents in affected areas to stay indoors at night, steer clear of overgrown regions, and seek antivenom if necessary.