Heavy rain clouds blanketed Wenzhou’s downtown area as Typhoon Bavi drew near on July 11, 2026, in Zhejiang province, China. The storm has caused the evacuation of over 600,000 residents in China, especially in the city of Wenzhou, which is home to approximately 10 million people. This move came after Bavi pounded Japan’s Sakishima Islands with intense rainfall and fierce winds, then brushed past northern Taiwan.
Although Bavi is gradually losing strength and moving over colder waters, it remains a significant threat due to the enormous amount of moisture contained within its rainbands—stretching roughly the length of France. Meteorologists predict the typhoon will make landfall in Wenzhou early Sunday morning.
State media reported that more than 500,000 individuals had been evacuated in Zhejiang Province, where Wenzhou is situated, with an additional 100,000 evacuees in neighboring Fujian Province. Wenzhou resident Huang Xinghuan, 50, expressed cautious optimism while shopping at a local wet market before the storm’s arrival. “I’m a bit worried, but I believe everything will be alright. We’ve experienced typhoons before, and we’ll get through this,” he said. Huang’s family has stocked enough water to last around two to three days and feels confident that supplies are sufficient, emphasizing that there’s no need for panic buying.
While no fatalities have been reported in Japan and Taiwan due to Bavi, the typhoon’s heavy rains contributed to the death of 17 people in the Philippines, exacerbated by the intensified southwest monsoon. Taiwan’s fire department reported injuries to 87 people, mainly from falls off motorcycles or bicycles, or from being hit by falling objects.
Taiwan took proactive measures, evacuating over 14,000 people from mountainous regions as the nation prepared for Bavi’s approach. Although the storm did not directly make landfall, authorities issued precautions to prevent casualties, anticipating nearly 1 meter (3 feet) of rainfall in some areas.
Most evacuations occurred in northern and eastern parts of Taiwan, resulting in the cancellation of 920 international flights and the shutdown of Taoyuan International Airport outside Taipei—the country’s main gateway—as well as all 282 domestic flights. With most schools and offices closing for the weekend, the country declared a typhoon holiday, although some restaurants and convenience stores in Taipei remained open. The primary north-south high-speed rail line continued running but with limited service.
In Taipei, residents experienced gusty winds and rain, with some staying outdoors. Yeh Mao-hsiung, 68, dismissed the storm’s severity, saying, “It’s fine, just a bit more wind.” Nonetheless, in the Beitou district near the mountains, winds approaching 60 mph toppled trees and caused rivers to swell.
Wenzhou resident Chen Qiuqin, in her sixties, walked through steady rain on her way to her parents’ home to help prepare for the typhoon. She was not overly worried, citing the government’s preparations. “I was concerned about the flowerpots on my mother’s balcony, so I came to help move them inside. My parents are elderly and home alone, so I wanted to make sure they’re safe,” she shared.
