Typhoon Bavi, a large and powerful storm, approached a remote chain of islands in Japan's southwest on Friday, prompting authorities to warn of violent winds, torrential rain, landslides, and flooding. This could be the region's most destructive storm in years.
Typhoon Bavi's Path and Strength
Early on Friday, Typhoon Bavi was nearing Japan's Sakishima Islands, a remote chain of islands near Taiwan, with maximum sustained winds of 162 kph (100 mph). Locals taped up windows and draped windproof nets across homes and shops to prepare for the storm. Airlines cancelled dozens of flights in the region, including for Saturday.
Impact on Ishigaki Island
In Ishigaki, one of the islands in the Sakishima chain popular with tourists, residents stocked up on supplies, emptying shelves of instant noodles at a local supermarket. Some public beaches, coastal parks, and the local ferry terminal appeared closed. "I heard that this one will be pretty big," said Hiroshi Nomura, as he strung windproof nets across his bicycle rental store. "I'm a little concerned about whether our typhoon preparations are enough."
Taiwan Braces for Heavy Rain
In neighboring Taiwan, financial markets closed for the day, and a large swathe of the north and east also took the day off work. The Taipei city government set up stations for residents to collect sandbags. Bavi is not expected to make landfall in Taiwan but will dump huge amounts of rain on the island, with some areas potentially receiving up to one meter (3.3 feet) of rain starting late on Friday. The government said more than 1,000 people have been evacuated, mainly from the mountainous eastern coast, and nearly 29,000 military personnel were on standby to help relief efforts.
Official Statements and Precautions
"Although the typhoon has weakened slightly and has been downgraded to a moderate typhoon, its storm radius is large and it may still bring strong winds and heavy rain to many areas," Taiwan President Lai Ching-te wrote on his Facebook page. Taiwan's airlines have cancelled all of their flights on Saturday from the main international airport at Taoyuan outside Taipei. TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, said it would delay the scheduled release of its June sales data from Friday to Monday.
Forecast for China
Late on Saturday, Bavi is forecast to make landfall around the eastern Chinese city of Wenzhou, home to 10 million people.
