Typhoon Bavi lashes Japan's southern islands; landslides kill 15 in Philippines

Typhoon Bavi pummelled Japan’s southern Sakishima island chain with heavy rain and ‌violent winds on Saturday (July 11, 2026) as it headed towards ​Taiwan, prompting authorities to warn of flooding risks ⁠and landslides. On Friday (July 10, 2026), 15 people were killed in landslides in the Philippines and thousands in Taiwan were evacuated from their homes as the biggest typhoon in decades neared the region. On the island of Japan’s Ishigaki, part of Okinawa prefecture, small pieces of debris could be seen flying across empty streets, with only ‌a scattering of vehicles braving the gale and rain. Boats at a local harbour rocked in ‌the strong currents brought on by the large and ‌strong ⁠storm, which had maximum sustained winds of 144 kph (90 ⁠mph) near its centre. Authorities issued a warning of gusts reaching up to 198 kph. Flights and ferry services across Ishigaki, a popular tourist destination, remained ​suspended for all of ‌Saturday (July 11, 2026). In neighbouring Taiwan, the government evacuated more than 14,000 people from mainly mountainous areas as the island shut down for the approach of Bavi to the north. While Bavi, ‌which is gradually weakening, will not make landfall on Taiwan, ​the government is taking all precautions to prevent loss of life, given forecasts for almost 1 ⁠metre (3.3 feet) of rain in some areas. Most of those evacuated were in areas in the north and east, with 917 international ‌flights cancelled as well as all 274 domestic flights. Almost all cities and counties across Taiwan declared a typhoon holiday for Saturday (July 11, 2026), closing any offices and schools that may have been open on the weekend. The main north-south high speed rail line remained open, but with a reduced service. In the ‌capital Taipei, there was blustery wind and rain with some people still ​out on the street. “It’s OK, it’s not that serious,” said Taipei resident Yeh Mao-hsiung, 68, out ⁠for a morning walk with his dog. “It’s just a little bit ⁠more wind.” After passing by Taiwan to the northeast, Bavi is forecast to hit the eastern Chinese city ‌of Wenzhou, home to 10 million people, early on Sunday (July 12, 2026). Landslides kill 15 in Philippines Two landslides triggered by heavy rains driven by Bavi killed at least 15 people and left six others missing on the Philippines’ southern island of Mindanao, authorities said. Locals in Taiwan’s port city of Keelung, which is expected to be one of the hardest hit areas on the island, stocked up on food, taped windows and stacked sandbags along shopfronts, heeding warnings from authorities to take precautions. After hitting Guam and the Northern Marianas on Monday as a super typhoon, Bavi was downgraded to a typhoon as it moved across the Pacific Ocean. Bavi’s maximum sustained wind speeds slowed to 155 kilometres (96 miles) per hour, with gusts of around 190 kilometres per hour, on Friday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. “From tonight through daytime tomorrow will be the period when the typhoon is closest to Taiwan and its impact will be the most significant,” CWA forecaster Liao Chwen-huey said. Bavi’s strong-wind radius of 380 kilometres will make it the largest typhoon to hit Taiwan in more than 30 years.