Typhoon Bavi batters eastern China

What's happened

Typhoon Bavi has made two landfalls in Zhejiang province and has weakened to a severe tropical storm while still carrying vast moisture. Authorities have evacuated more than 1.7 million people in Zhejiang and moved hundreds of thousands in neighbouring provinces; flights and train services have been cancelled and flooding, fallen trees and landslides have been reported.

What's behind the headline?

What just happened

Typhoon Bavi has struck Zhejiang province, made a second landfall near Wenzhou and has weakened inland to a severe tropical storm. Despite lower wind speeds, the system still carries very large rain bands and is producing prolonged heavy rainfall across eastern China.

Why this matters now

• Flood risk will increase because rivers and low-lying areas are already saturated from recent storms this season.
• Transport disruption will continue: airports and major rail stations have suspended services and hundreds to thousands of flights have been cancelled.
• Emergency services will remain stretched: provincial authorities have mobilised rescue crews and heavy equipment to clear fallen trees, landslides and urban flooding.

Likely next steps

• Rain will continue to move inland over Anhui, Jiangsu, Shandong and parts of northeastern China and will generate flash floods and landslides in hilly areas.
• Authorities will continue large-scale evacuations and keep suspensions on schools, work and transport where flood risk remains high.
• Central and provincial disaster relief funds and rescue teams will be deployed to clear roads and support displaced residents.

What to watch

• Reports of casualties, reservoir overflows or dam breaches, given recent storm-related failures elsewhere in China.
• Official updates from China’s National Meteorological Center on rainfall totals and the storm’s projected track toward the Yellow Sea.
• Transport notices from major airports and rail operators for cancellations and resumptions of service.

How we got here

Bavi formed in the western Pacific, strengthened to a super typhoon and hit Japan's southern islands and skirted north of Taiwan before moving into eastern China. China has already faced deadly storms this season, and the National Climate Centre has warned this summer will bring an above-average number of strong tropical cyclones.

Our analysis

Several outlets reported the same core facts but emphasised different details. Reuters captions reproduced in CNBC and Al Jazeera carried local eyewitness quotes such as Yueqing resident Li Liangxing saying, "We could hear roof tiles and tree branches falling" (reported across Reuters excerpts in CNBC and Al Jazeera). The New York Times Business highlighted evacuation numbers and inland flooding, noting video from Zhejiang Media Group showing submerged first floors and villagers waiting for rescue. France 24 and AP focused on official meteorological figures and the wider regional impact, with France 24 quoting Xinhua that Bavi first made landfall in Zhejiang packing winds of 144 kph and noting the province issued an orange typhoon alert. Local state broadcaster CCTV supplied data cited by multiple outlets — for example, Reuters and AP repeated CCTV's tally that more than 1,300 trees fell in Yueqing and that deep flooding reached roughly half a vehicle tyre's height. Bloomberg placed the event in a seasonal context, citing the National Climate Centre’s forecast that China could face up to six tropical cyclones this summer, "expected to be strong overall." The varied coverage gives readers both human detail — residents describing damage and fear — and official metrics on evacuations, wind speeds and cancelled services; readers can follow CCTV/Xinhua for official tallies and Reuters/AFP for on-the-ground eyewitness reporting.

Go deeper

• How many people remain displaced and where are relief centres being set up?
• Have any dams or reservoirs reported emergency discharges or breaches?
• When will air and rail services resume in Zhejiang and Shanghai?

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