Typhoon Bavi Weakens, But China’s Danger Is Far From Over

Typhoon Bavi weakened into a tropical storm on Sunday, just hours after making landfall in Zhejiang province , but authorities warned that the system would continue to bring strong winds and heavy rainfall across large parts of eastern China.

According to China's National Meteorological Center , the storm has been steadily losing intensity as it moves northwestward through eastern China and into Anhui province . Despite the weakening, forecasters said several cities across eastern and northeastern China could experience days of severe weather, with some areas already recording heavy to torrential rainfall.

As a precaution, authorities launched massive evacuation efforts. More than 2.2 million people were moved to safer locations in Zhejiang, making it one of the largest evacuations linked to the storm. Shanghai evacuated over 290,000 residents from vulnerable areas, while neighboring Fujian province relocated more than 180,000 people ahead of the worst weather.

The storm also caused significant damage in the coastal city of Yueqing , where more than 1,300 trees were toppled, including at least 700 uprooted entirely.

Transportation networks faced major disruptions. Shanghai's Pudong International Airport and Hongqiao International Airport were expected to cancel around 653 inbound and outbound flights , affecting thousands of travelers.

Before reaching mainland China, Bavi passed north of Taiwan without making a direct landfall. Taiwanese authorities reported that at least 134 people were injured , with many accidents occurring on slippery roads or during strong gusts of wind.

Although Bavi has weakened, Chinese authorities continue to monitor the storm closely as concerns remain over flooding, landslides, and further disruptions in the days ahead.