Typhoon Babi Forces Massive Evacuations in China
On Saturday, China undertook the evacuation of over 1.8 million residents as Typhoon Babi struck Japan’s southern Sakishima Islands, bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds. The storm moved through northern Taiwan before shifting toward Wenzhou, a major city in eastern China.
Even though Babi is gradually weakening as it travels northwest over cooler waters, it still poses a risk due to its substantial moisture, which, interestingly, stretches over a rainband comparable to the length of France.
The National Meteorological Center reported that the typhoon had maximum sustained winds of 90 miles per hour, which classifies it as a Category 1 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale. As of 8:08 a.m., it was located about 194 miles southeast of Wenling city in Zhejiang province.
Babi is slated to make landfall early Sunday near Wenzhou, which has a population of around 10 million.
State media indicated that more than 1.7 million individuals in Zhejiang province, home to Wenzhou, have been evacuated, along with over 100,000 from neighboring Fujian province.
“I’m feeling a bit anxious, but I think we’ll manage. We’ve faced typhoons before. Somehow, we’ll get through this,” said Huang Xinghuan, a 50-year-old resident of Wenzhou who was shopping for groceries at a local market before it closed for the storm. Huang mentioned that his family had prepared enough supplies to last two to three days, stating, “We don’t need to panic and stock up too heavily.”
So far, there have been no reported casualties related to the typhoon in Japan or Taiwan. However, in the Philippines, 17 people lost their lives due to heavy rainfall intensified by the southwest monsoon, which was affected by Babi.
Taiwan reported 87 injuries, primarily from falls off bicycles or motorbikes and other accidents.
Taiwan Averts the Worst of Babi
In Taiwan, authorities evacuated over 14,000 individuals, particularly from mountainous regions, as the island braced for Babi approaching from the north. While Babi did not directly hit Taiwan, the government acted to ensure safety, forecasting as much as three feet of rainfall in certain areas.
The majority of evacuations took place in northern and eastern Taiwan, leading to the cancellation of 920 international flights. Taiwan’s main airport in Taoyuan, near Taipei, and all 282 domestic flights were largely shut down.
Most cities in Taiwan confirmed a typhoon holiday on Saturday, with many offices and schools closed. Although some eateries and convenience stores in Taipei remained operational, the primary North-South high-speed railway continued with reduced service.
Despite the chaos, some in central Taipei were still venturing outdoors amid the harsh weather. A 68-year-old named Shigeo Ha, out with his dog, remarked, “It’s fine, it’s not too serious,” though he noticed the wind had picked up.
Conversely, in the Beitou district near Taipei, wind gusts reaching around 100 km/h resulted in downed trees and swollen rivers.
Chen Qiuqin, a Wenzhou resident in her 60s, navigated through steady rain en route to her parents’ home to assist with storm preparations. “I was concerned about the flower pots on my mom’s balcony, so I brought them inside. My parents are older and alone at home,” she explained, expressing a measure of concern but also confidence in the government’s readiness.
