A large and powerful typhoon is moving toward China, bringing heavy rain and strong winds ahead of its expected landfall later Saturday and triggering an emergency response in the Zhejiang province.
Typhoon Bavi, the ninth typhoon of the year, was located about 489 kilometers off the coast of Wenzhou at 9 a.m. on July 11 with maximum sustained winds of Force 14, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Classified as a strong typhoon, Bavi is expected to make landfall between Cangnan and Sanmen in Zhejiang before midnight while moving northwest at 30-35 kilometers an hour.
According to Zhejiang provincial authorities, a Level I — the highest — typhoon emergency response will take effect at 11 a.m. on July 11 as the storm is forecast to bring severe winds, heavy rain, and high waves through July 12. Local governments have been authorized to suspend outdoor activities, work, classes, business operations, transport services and road traffic if necessary.The typhoon is expected to bring heavy rain over much of Taiwan on Saturday, with the area around Taipei forecast to get 350 millimeters (13.8 inches) in 24 hours, according to the Central Weather Administration. Taiwan suspended trading on its stock exchange, offices in major cities were closed on Friday, and over 900 flights to and from the island were canceled for the weekend. More than 150,000 households across Taiwan experienced power outages, state-owned Taiwan Power Company said.
