Typhoon "Bavi" strikes Zhejiang coast twice, over 2.2 million evacuated
Nature rarely warns of its blows, but when it speaks, its voice can be deafening. Typhoon "Bavi", the ninth of the season, once again reminded us of its power, making landfall twice in a row on the coast of eastern China's Zhejiang Province. Such an event has not been seen for many years. A double strike is a test for infrastructure and a measure of the authorities' readiness. Though wind and water spare no one, the timely evacuation of more than 2.2 million people shows that humanity can stand firm even against nature's fiercest onslaught.
Late on Saturday night, at around 23:20, Typhoon "Bavi" first made landfall on the coast of Yuhuan, a county‑level city under the administration of Taizhou. Maximum wind speeds near the centre reached 40 metres per second, with a minimum central pressure of 955 hectopascals. Shortly after midnight, at about 00:00 on Sunday, the typhoon made its second landfall — this time on the coast of Qingjiang in Yueqing, a county‑level city under the administration of Wenzhou. At that moment, wind speeds reached 38 metres per second, and pressure fell to 960 hectopascals.
The typhoon is expected to continue moving northwestwards, gradually weakening. Forecasters expect heavy rainfall in coastal areas, as well as in central and southern Zhejiang on Saturday night, with heavy downpours in the western parts of the province on Sunday. At 11:00 on Saturday, provincial authorities raised the emergency response level to the highest. By 14:00, more than 2.21 million residents had been evacuated to safe locations.
Typhoon "Bavi" is the ninth tropical cyclone this season. A double landfall is a rare occurrence, significantly expanding the area of destruction. Zhejiang authorities activated rescue services in advance, closed schools and businesses and suspended port operations. The evacuation was carried out swiftly thanks to a well‑established early warning system and the prompt work of local administrations. As CCTV+ reports. Rescue teams remain on standby in affected areas, while meteorologists warn of possible landslides and floods in mountainous and coastal zones.
