Super Typhoon "Bavi" heads toward southern China – fifth fatality after severe storms

Weather authorities consider the situation to remain tense, as Typhoon "Bavi" is moving from the Pacific toward southeastern China. A super typhoon is a cyclone that reaches sustained maximum wind speeds of 241 kilometers per hour or more. The currently forecast peak values are well above the threshold of an ordinary typhoon.

What makes a super typhoon

Taiwan's weather agency announced that "Bavi" could hit Taiwan on Saturday morning (local time). The island lies in the usual track of tropical cyclones in the western Pacific; according to available reports, the last comparable cyclone there was recorded in May 2021.

In southern China, severe flooding occurs repeatedly during the summer months. Observers point to the influence of the El Niño climate phenomenon, which raises sea temperatures in the Pacific and can thereby intensify tropical storms.

Rescue operations and warnings

Rescue teams continue to operate, according to authorities, to recover those buried and to evacuate residents to higher ground. Reports on the total number of injured and the exact damage toll are still being updated.

In view of the approaching typhoon's peak winds of over 200 kilometers per hour, meteorologists are warning of further damage to buildings and infrastructure. The coming hours are considered decisive for further developments.

This article will not be updated further; editorial deadline was 5:00 p.m. CEST. For the consequences of the typhoon, new casualty figures, and possible relief measures, please refer to follow-up reports.