Lead

Typhoon Bavi made landfall in Zhejiang province in eastern China late Saturday night, bringing strong winds and heavy rain after more than 1.7 million people took shelter, according to reports from ABC Australia and Deutsche Welle. The storm, which had previously battered Japan's southern islands and brought life in Taiwan to a near standstill, is expected to weaken as it moves northwestward inland.

Coverage Comparison

ABC Australia and Deutsche Welle both reported on the storm's landfall in China and its regional impact. ABC Australia focused on the storm's arrival in China, noting that authorities had suspended school classes, work, public transport, and outdoor activities, and cancelled over 400 flights and dozens of train services in Zhejiang province. Deutsche Welle provided broader regional coverage, highlighting the storm's effects on Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines, in addition to China.

Both outlets reported that over 1.7 million people had been evacuated or taken shelter in Zhejiang province. ABC Australia reported winds up to 144 kilometres per hour at landfall, a figure also cited by Deutsche Welle in reference to Japan's Sakishima island chain. The storm is expected to continue weakening as it moves inland, according to both sources.

Key Claims

  • Typhoon Bavi made landfall in Zhejiang province in eastern China late Saturday night, as reported by both ABC Australia and Deutsche Welle.
  • Over 1.7 million people took shelter across Zhejiang province, according to Chinese state media, as cited by both ABC Australia and Deutsche Welle.
  • The storm brought winds up to 144 kilometres per hour, a figure reported by both outlets, though in different contexts: ABC Australia referred to winds at landfall in China, while Deutsche Welle noted sustained winds in Japan's Sakishima island chain.
  • Torrential rain and flash flooding were expected in coastal regions of Zhejiang, as reported by ABC Australia, citing provincial officials.
  • School classes, work, public transport, and outdoor activities were suspended ahead of the storm's arrival in Zhejiang, with over 400 flights and dozens of train services cancelled, according to ABC Australia.
  • Evacuations affected over 100,000 people from Fujian province and Beijing, along with 34,000 from Shanghai, as reported by ABC Australia, citing Chinese state media.
  • The death toll in the Philippines rose to at least 17 due to landslides and other incidents triggered by heavy rains from Bavi, with both ABC Australia and Deutsche Welle reporting this figure; a single Deutsche Welle article also mentioned a higher toll of 18, but the two outlets' reports largely agree on 17.
  • Over 11,000 people across the Philippines were forced from their homes, as reported by Deutsche Welle.
  • More than 24,000 households lost power in Japan's Okinawa prefecture, and over 150,000 households were left without power in Taiwan, according to Deutsche Welle. ABC Australia's report did not include these figures.
  • The storm is expected to continue weakening as it heads towards China's southeast coast, a prediction reported by Deutsche Welle.

Perspectives

Chinese authorities

Chinese officials in Zhejiang province emphasized proactive and all-out mobilization to guard against the worst-case scenario, as quoted by ABC Australia. They suspended work, school, and transport, and issued warnings about potential flooding.

Evacuees in China

Huang Xinghuan, a resident of Wenzhou city in Zhejiang, told ABC Australia that he was "a little worried" but confident, saying, "We've been through typhoons before. We'll get through it." He noted that supplies were well guaranteed and there was no need to panic.

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