Over 700 Trees Uprooted and 653 Flights Canceled: Experts Warn of Increasing Frequency

Typhoon "Bavi" as Wide as France
Weakened Over Inland China,
But Severe Storms Persist... Secondary Disaster Risks Remain

Typhoon Bavi, which developed amid the overlapping effects of global warming and the El Niño phenomenon, has caused extensive flood damage across China and Taiwan. Meteorological experts have warned that such extreme weather events are likely to become more frequent due to climate change.

On the 11th, after Typhoon Bavi passed, a huge tree fell on a road in Wenling, Zhejiang Province, eastern China. Photo by AP Yonhap News

According to AP and other sources on July 13, Typhoon Bavi, the ninth typhoon of the season, made landfall in Zhejiang Province on the southeastern coast of China on the 11th before moving inland. At one point, Bavi spanned approximately 1,000 kilometers in diameter—comparable to the size of France. Although it has since weakened to a tropical storm, it continues to bring torrential rain to eastern and northeastern Chinese provinces, including Jilin, Liaoning, Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu, and Anhui. China's National Meteorological Center forecasted that by the 14th, Bavi is expected to move toward the northern part of the Yellow Sea, near the west coast of Korea.

More than 2.2 million people were evacuated in Zhejiang Province, and according to the state-run Xinhua News Agency, over 290,000 people in Shanghai and more than 180,000 in Fujian Province were also relocated to safety. In Yueqing, Zhejiang Province, over 1,300 trees were toppled, with more than 700 uprooted, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV. At Shanghai's Pudong and Hongqiao International Airports, 653 flights were canceled. Heavy rainfall in southeastern Zhejiang caused the Nanxi River to overflow, resulting in the flooding of villages and farmland, according to Chinese meteorological authorities.

Ma Jun, Director of the Beijing Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, told the Global Times that while typhoons typically weaken after moving inland, lingering moisture and circulation can continue to trigger heavy rains and strong winds along their path. He explained, "This year, the rainy season started earlier than usual, and there has been more precipitation, so the soil is already saturated." He warned that the risk of secondary disasters such as floods and landslides may increase.

On the 10th, huge waves were rising before Typhoon Bavi made landfall in Yuanling, Zhejiang Province, eastern China. AP Yonhap News

Experts have assessed that the rapid intensification of El Niño—a phenomenon in which equatorial Pacific sea surface temperatures rise abnormally—has increased the likelihood of frequent extreme weather events like Bavi. Director Ma Jun said, "El Niño is developing more quickly than expected this year, alongside global warming," and predicted, "Going forward, torrential rains and extreme storms are likely to become even more frequent and intense." Benjamin Horton, Dean of the Energy and Environment College at Hong Kong City University, told foreign media that El Niño could steer typhoon tracks closer to China's coastline, adding, "The more rapidly a typhoon intensifies, the less time there is to prepare, which can lead to greater damage."

Meanwhile, Taiwan, though not directly hit by the typhoon, also suffered significant rain damage, especially in the north. According to Taiwan's fire authorities, at least 134 people were injured—most of them in accidents caused by strong winds, such as falling off motorcycles or being struck by debris. The Ministry of Transportation of Taiwan reported that 137 international flights and 62 domestic flights were canceled.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.