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15 Jul 2026

More than two million evacuated from Typhoon Bavi

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SEOUL / PYONGYANG / BEIJING — More than one million people were evacuated from coastal and low‑lying regions of East Asia as Typhoon Bavi intensified into one of the most powerful tropical systems to strike the region in years, according to regional authorities and early emergency‑management reports.

Bavi, which formed over the western Pacific last week, has strengthened while tracking northward past the Korean Peninsula. Meteorological agencies in South Korea, China, and North Korea warn that the storm’s sustained winds and projected rainfall totals place it among the most severe typhoons to hit the area in at least a decade.

 

Mass evacuations and infrastructure shutdowns

Local governments in northeastern China and along the Korean Peninsula have ordered large‑scale evacuations from exposed coastal zones, fishing harborus, and flood‑prone rural communities. Transport networks have been disrupted across several provinces, with ferry lines suspended, flights cancelled, and sections of major highways closed due to the risk of landslides and storm surge.

South Korea’s national weather service reports that Bavi could bring wind gusts exceeding 150 km/h, along with intense rainfall capable of triggering flash floods. North Korea’s state media has issued rare early warnings, urging citizens to secure homes and agricultural sites as the storm approaches.

 

Agricultural and economic concerns

Authorities across the region are bracing for significant agricultural losses, particularly in areas already strained by seasonal monsoon flooding. Coastal industries — including shipping, petrochemical facilities, and fisheries — have halted operations as a precaution.

Chinese emergency‑response officials say they are preparing for “major infrastructure impacts,” including potential damage to power grids and communications networks in Liaoning and Shandong provinces.

 

International monitoring

The Japan Meteorological Agency and other regional forecasting centers continue to track Bavi’s trajectory, noting that the storm may weaken slightly as it moves inland but will still pose a serious threat due to heavy rainfall and persistent high winds.

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