China Evacuates 600,000 Residents Over Typhoon Bavi Fears
Chinese farmers are worried about crops in agricultural fields following heavy rainfall. Photo: Reuters
Powerful Typhoon Bavi is moving toward Wenzhou, a major city in eastern China, after lashing Japan’s southern Sakishima Islands with heavy rain and strong winds. China has already evacuated more than 600,000 people to safe shelters to avoid possible damage.
The typhoon is forecast to make landfall in Wenzhou, home to nearly 10 million people, early Sunday. Although Bavi weakened slightly while passing north of Taiwan, its massive rainband, roughly the size of France, still poses a major threat.
Chinese state media reported that 500,000 people have been evacuated from Zhejiang province, where Wenzhou is located, and more than 100,000 others from neighboring Fujian province.
Wenzhou resident Huang Xinghuan, 50, said while buying groceries, “I am a little worried, but I think everything will be fine. We have seen typhoons before. We will get through this.”
He added, “There is no shortage of anything, so there is no need to stockpile extra food in panic.”
No casualties have been reported so far in Japan and Taiwan. However, 17 people have died in the Philippines due to the southwest monsoon, which intensified under the influence of Bavi.
In Taiwan, 14,000 people have been evacuated from mountainous areas and a ‘typhoon holiday’ has been declared across the country. Authorities have canceled 920 international and 280 domestic flights.
Winds reached 100 kph in Taipei’s Beitou district, uprooting trees and flooding rivers. Ye Mao-hsiung, 68, a local resident, said, “Everything is fine, it is not very serious. Only the wind speed is a little higher.”
Meanwhile, Wenzhou resident Chen Qiuqin, who is in her 60s, said while on her way to help her elderly parents, “I was worried about the flower pots on my mother’s balcony, so I am going to move them inside. Both of my parents are elderly and live alone at home, so I cannot feel at ease.”
Source: Reuters (Adapted)
