TYPHOON BAVI BATTERS EASTERN CHINA AFTER MORE THAN 2.8 MILLION EVACUATED

Typhoon Bavi weakened after making landfall in eastern China, but continued to bring strong winds and heavy rain across multiple provinces Sunday after authorities evacuated more than 2.8 million people, according to Reuters. The Associated Press reported that the storm had weakened to a tropical storm after coming ashore in Zhejiang province, while China's National Meteorological Center warned that heavy rainfall remained a concern.

Reuters described Bavi as the most powerful storm to hit mainland China so far in 2026. The storm first made landfall in Yuhuan, Zhejiang, then struck Yueqing, bringing flooding, power outages, fallen trees and landslides before moving inland toward Anhui province.

The evacuations were concentrated in Zhejiang, where AP reported more than 2.2 million people were moved. AP also reported that 290,000 people were evacuated from Shanghai and more than 180,000 from Fujian province. Reuters placed the broader evacuation figure above 2.8 million.

The storm disrupted travel across eastern China. AP reported that Shanghai's Pudong and Hongqiao airports cancelled about 653 flights, while Reuters reported flight and train disruption in Shanghai and Hangzhou. Authorities also moved people out of exposed coastal and low-lying areas as the storm approached.

In Yueqing, AP reported that more than 1,300 trees were toppled. Reuters reported flooding, landslides and damage in communities hit by the storm's strongest winds and rain. No deaths or injuries in mainland China were reported in the Reuters account reviewed by Mission Offline.

Before reaching mainland China, Bavi passed north of Taiwan. Reuters and AP reported that at least 134 people were injured there, mostly in wind-related incidents. Reuters also reported that Taiwan cancelled 137 international flights and 62 domestic flights as the storm affected the island.

The main risk in China has shifted from coastal wind damage to inland rainfall and flooding. Reuters reported that forecasters warned Bavi could continue producing widespread heavy rain across eastern and northern China over the coming days, including areas already saturated by recent rainfall.

The scale of the evacuation shows how seriously Chinese authorities treated the storm before landfall. The next concern will be whether rainfall totals trigger additional flooding, landslides or river-level problems as the remnants of Bavi move farther inland.

Fact-check date: July 12, 2026
Article type: News
Sources: Reuters; Associated Press; Al Jazeera; CNBC; CBC; China National Meteorological Center as reported by AP