Nearly two million people fled their homes across eastern China as Typhoon Bavi slammed into the coast Sunday, capping a destructive sweep across East Asia that knocked out power in Taiwan and Japan, triggered deadly landslides in the Philippines, and forced Beijing to issue its first red rainstorm alert of 2026.

The massive storm made landfall around Wenzhou, a metropolis of nearly 10 million people in Zhejiang province, after battering Taiwan and Japan with torrential rains and destructive winds. Chinese authorities had evacuated approximately 887,801 people from the Wenzhou area alone by late Friday, with the total across affected provinces approaching two million.

Downgraded After Landfall

Bavi was downgraded to a severe tropical storm Sunday after making landfall, with no immediate reports of casualties in China. However, the system continued to pose serious flooding risks as it moved inland. An orange typhoon alert and China's first red rainstorm alert of the year remained in force for eastern Zhejiang and northeastern Fujian provinces.

At its peak, Super Typhoon Bavi had reached what forecasters described as "gargantuan" size, making it possibly the most powerful storm to threaten the region in years. The system tracked across the Philippine Sea before turning toward Taiwan and China, gradually weakening as it encountered cooler waters.

Taiwan and Japan Assess Damage

In Taiwan, the typhoon knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of residents and forced the suspension of transportation services across the island. The storm arrived as Taiwan conducts major military exercises, though defense officials said the weather did not significantly disrupt planned drills.

Japan also experienced significant impacts, with heavy rains causing flooding in multiple prefectures. Electric scooters and motorcycles became improvised ferries as commuters in affected areas navigated flooded streets.

Philippines Death Toll Rises

The Philippines bore the brunt of Bavi's early fury. The storm, known locally as Typhoon Inday, triggered landslides and flash flooding that killed multiple people before the system moved north toward Taiwan. Search and rescue operations continue in affected mountain communities.

The typhoon season in the western Pacific typically runs from May through November, with the most powerful storms often forming in July and August. Climate scientists have noted that warming ocean temperatures are providing more energy for tropical cyclones, potentially increasing both their intensity and the amount of rainfall they produce.

Chinese authorities said early evacuations and preparation likely prevented a higher casualty count, crediting improved forecasting and emergency response systems developed after previous deadly storms in the region.