Super Typhoon Bavi Intensifies as It Heads Toward Eastern China

Super Typhoon Bavi is barreling toward China's Taiwan and the southeastern coast of its mainland with sustained winds of 200 kph, prompting weather authorities to issue multiple warnings today.

The storm was located about 1,210 kilometers southeast of Taiwan's Keelung City as of 5am, packing maximum sustained winds of 55 meters per second, equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane, according to the China Meteorological Administration. Bavi is expected to continue moving northwest at 15 to 20 kph, reaching waters off northeastern Taiwan on Saturday before making landfall or skimming the island's northern coast at Category 4 or 5 strength.

Forecasters said the storm could then approach the coast between Fujian and Zhejiang provinces, gradually weakening as it moves inland.

"The storm's intensity and duration at super typhoon level are remarkable," said Xiang Chunyi, chief typhoon forecaster at the China Meteorological Administration, reported The Paper.

She attributed Bavi's strength to warm sea surface temperatures, sustained moisture supply and favorable high-altitude conditions that have kept its core structure stable, according to the report.

Bavi's approach comes as the remnants of Typhoon Maysak continue to bring heavy rain to southern China. Since July 3, 91 rivers across Guangxi have exceeded warning levels, with five experiencing record floods, according to the Ministry of Water Resources. The overlapping weather systems have heightened concerns about flooding, with forecasters warning that soil saturation and overlapping rainfall zones increase the risk of secondary disasters like flash floods and mudslides.