Key facts
- Super Typhoon Bavi is forecast to make landfall in China's Fujian province on Saturday evening.
- The storm's winds are currently just under 200 kph.
- Scientists link the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events to climate change and El Nino.
- Typhoon Maysak previously caused significant flooding and deaths in southern China.
- Authorities in Taiwan and Japan have issued warnings and urged residents to prepare for the storm.
Southern China is bracing for the arrival of Super Typhoon Bavi, which is expected to make landfall on Saturday evening in Fujian province, following severe flooding in the region. Scientists warn that climate change and the emergence of El Nino are contributing to more frequent and intense typhoons, increasing the vulnerability of countries like China, Japan, and Taiwan.
Typhoon Bavi, currently located southeast of Taiwan, has winds just shy of 200 kph. While its intensity is expected to decrease slightly, it remains a dangerous storm. Authorities in Taiwan and Japan have issued high alerts, urging residents to prepare supplies and be vigilant for violent winds, landslides, flooding, and storm surges.
Experts note that Bavi's size and the long period it spent intensifying over the warm Pacific Ocean could lead to catastrophic damage upon landfall. The storm's track is crucial, and even small changes could have significant influence. This year's typhoon season is of particular concern due to El Nino, which is expected to shift typhoon tracks westward and fuel more powerful storms.
Previously, Typhoon Maysak caused significant flooding and damage in southern China's Guangxi region, resulting in at least six deaths and affecting 375,000 people. The current season is already noted as more intense than typical years, with storms becoming wetter and more destructive due to climate change.