Typhoon Bavi churns towards Taiwan as China braces for landfall

Typhoon Bavi churned southeast of Taiwan in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, its winds easing overnight to just shy of 200 kph, as authorities urged residents to stock up on supplies and brace for what could be the most powerful typhoon since 2024.



Bavi, currently about 1,000 km at its widest point or roughly the width of France, is forecast to skirt northern Taiwan before making landfall in China's eastern Fujian province on Saturday evening, according to China's National Meteorological Centre.



Bavi is set to be the largest storm by size to hit Taiwan since 1987, Jason Chang, Taiwan's Central Weather Administration forecaster, told Reuters, adding that storms of this size have been "fairly rare in recent years".



China, the world's second-largest economy, along with neighbouring Japan and Taiwan, are increasingly exposed to destructive weather events that scientists link to climate change. This year is of particular concern because the expected emergence of El Nino could drive up temperatures and help fuel more frequent and intense typhoons.



If Bavi maintains its forecast intensity, it would be the most powerful typhoon since Super Typhoon Kong-rey in 2024,