Typhoon Bavi heads for China's southeastern coast as Philippines landslides kill 15 and 500 flights are cancelled
Typhoon Bavi was tracking toward China's Fujian and Zhejiang provinces on July 10 after monsoon-amplified landslides killed at least 15 people in the Philippines' Sarangani province and Mindanao; China raised its orange typhoon alert and convened a national flood-control meeting; more than 500 flights were cancelled across China, Taiwan and the Philippines, and Taiwan closed Taipei schools after its Central Weather Administration issued its first-ever mega-wave warning
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Summary
Typhoon Bavi moved toward China's southeastern coast on July 10, tracking toward Fujian and Zhejiang provinces for a forecast landfall late July 11 or early July 12. In the Philippines, the storm's intensification of the seasonal monsoon triggered landslides in Sarangani province and Mindanao that killed at least 15 people. China raised its orange typhoon alert, the second-highest in its four-tier system, and its National Flood Control and Drought Relief headquarters convened with multiple ministries to coordinate the response. Taiwan closed Taipei schools and the Central Weather Administration issued its first-ever "mega wave" warning after forecasting waves exceeding 6 metres and up to 900 mm of rainfall in northern mountain areas through Sunday. More than 500 flights were cancelled across China, Taiwan and the Philippines, with ferry services and trains also suspended.
The split
China Daily and Global Times emphasised that Bavi had weakened from peak intensity but warned that severe flooding across Fujian and Zhejiang remained the primary risk. Focus Taiwan led with the 900 mm rain and 6-metre wave warnings for Taiwan, framing the storm as the largest to approach the island since 1987. Al Jazeera focused on the Philippines landslide deaths, noting the storm was amplifying the existing monsoon rather than making direct landfall in the archipelago. Vietnam Net reported the storm had shifted northward, reducing risk to northern Vietnam.
By the numbers
- 15, people killed in Philippine landslides in Sarangani province and Mindanao
- 500+, flights cancelled across China, Taiwan and the Philippines
- 900 mm, rainfall forecast for northern Taiwan mountain areas through Sunday
- 6 metres, wave height that triggered Taiwan's first-ever "mega wave" warning
- 1987, last time a typhoon of comparable size affected northeastern Taiwan
Why it matters
Bavi arrives after China already recorded 50 storm deaths earlier in the week. A landfall in Fujian or Zhejiang, two of China's most densely industrialised coastal provinces, could disrupt manufacturing supply chains. The Philippines deaths add to what is already a deadly typhoon season in Southeast Asia, and pressure Mindanao regional authorities who face ongoing infrastructure gaps in disaster response.
What to watch
- Whether Bavi makes landfall between Fujian and Zhejiang as forecast late July 11, or shifts track northward
- Final death toll in the Philippines as rescue teams reach landslide-affected areas in Sarangani
- Extent of flooding and industrial disruption in Zhejiang and Fujian