Typhoon Bavi injures 36 in Taiwan, forces evacuations

Taiwan's Central Weather Administration on Saturday reported that Typhoon Bavi has injured at least 36 people and forced the evacuation of more than 14,000 residents as the storm bore down on the island. Officials urged residents to stay indoors amid forecasts of fierce winds and torrential rain, according to local broadcaster TVBS.

Warnings issued across East Asia

Taiwanese authorities said the typhoon was expected to pass closest to the island between Saturday afternoon and evening, bringing the strongest winds and heaviest rainfall while sea and land warnings remained in effect. The agency noted that these warnings could be lifted Sunday morning as the storm moves farther away from the island, according to Focus Taiwan.

Japan's Meteorological Department warned that Bavi could bring violent winds capable of damaging homes, high waves and flooding in low-lying coastal areas, as well as possible landslides, Kyodo News reported. The storm also disrupted some flights in the southern island prefecture of Okinawa.

China on high alert

In China, the National Meteorological Center issued an orange typhoon alert while authorities suspended in-person classes, closed tourist attractions and halted some ferry services in affected areas, according to the state-run Global Times. The storm is forecast to approach the coasts of Zhejiang and Fujian provinces before making landfall between Taizhou in Zhejiang and Fuding in Fujian early Sunday as either a severe typhoon or a typhoon. Meanwhile, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Saturday that Typhoon Bavi had exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility.