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A satellite image captures Typhoon Bavi as it churns through the Pacific Ocean on July 9, 2026. — Reuters
– Typhoon Bavi is approaching Japan’s Sakishima Islands.
– Taiwan has shut down financial markets and is preparing for heavy rain.
– The typhoon is forecast to strike the Chinese coast late Saturday.
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ISHIGAKI: A significant and intense typhoon is nearing a remote group of islands in southwestern Japan, prompting officials to warn of fierce winds, heavy rainfall, landslides, and flooding—potentially the most severe storm the area has seen in years.
Early Friday, Typhoon Bavi was closing in on Japan’s Sakishima Islands, a distant chain near Taiwan, with sustained winds reaching 100 mph (162 kph). Residents started taping windows and hanging windproof screens over homes and storefronts.
Many airlines canceled numerous flights in the region, including those scheduled for Saturday.
On Ishigaki, a popular tourist island within the Sakishima chain, locals rushed to stock up on supplies, with supermarket shelves stripped of instant noodles. Several beaches, coastal parks, and the ferry terminal appeared closed.
“Hearing about this storm, I think it’s going to be pretty bad,” said Hiroshi Nomura while hanging windproof nets around his bicycle rental shop. “I’m a little worried that our preparations might not be enough.”
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Taiwan braces for heavy rains
In neighboring Taiwan, markets have closed for the day, and a large section of the northern and eastern regions are on holiday. The Taipei city government has set up stations where residents can pick up sandbags.
Although Bavi isn’t expected to directly hit Taiwan, the island is anticipating heavy rainfall—up to a meter (about 3.3 feet) in some areas—starting late Friday.
Authorities have evacuated over 1,000 residents, mainly from the mountainous eastern coast, and nearly 29,000 military personnel are on standby to assist with relief efforts.
“While the typhoon has slightly weakened and is now categorized as a moderate storm, its large storm radius means strong winds and heavy rain could still impact many areas,” President Lai Ching-te posted on Facebook.
Taiwan’s airlines have canceled all Saturday flights departing from Taoyuan International Airport near Taipei.
The world’s largest contract chip manufacturer, TSMC, announced it will delay releasing its June sales data from Friday to Monday.
Late Saturday, Bavi is expected to make landfall near Wenzhou, a city in eastern China with a population of 10 million.
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