Overview
- The eyewall struck the Northern Mariana island of Rota on Monday, July 6, causing widespread damage to homes, the airport and seaport and leaving most residents without power or running water.
- As of July 9, Bavi has eased slightly in peak winds but remains roughly 1,000 km wide and is forecast to pass north of Taiwan before making landfall in Fujian province on Saturday evening, July 11.
- Taiwan and regional authorities have stepped up preparations, with about 29,000 soldiers placed on standby, large-scale evacuations, suspended ferry services and hundreds of flight cancellations to protect residents and supply lines.
- China is still responding to deadly flooding from Typhoon Maysak that killed at least 39 people, and officials warn Bavi could worsen rescue needs while disrupting eastern Chinese ports already facing heavy congestion.
- Scientists link Bavi’s rapid intensification and exceptional size to sea surface temperatures well above average and the developing El Niño, which increase the odds of stronger, wetter storms and greater inland flooding.