Over 1.72 million people on Saturday had been evacuated across Zhejiang Province to safe areas ahead of Typhoon Bavi, according to authorities.

As thousands of primary and secondary schools in the province suspended classes, the Ministry of Water Resources raised its emergency response for flood prevention in Zhejiang and Fujian provinces from Level-IV to Level-III.

It comes as the National Meteorological Centre issued a red alert for rainstorm, the highest level in its four-tier system, with Typhoon Bavi expected to make landfall along the coast of eastern China in the early hours of Sunday.

The neighboring Shanghai Municipality launched full-scale flood and typhoon control efforts, as the typhoon is set to bring gales and rainfall to the megacity. As of Saturday noon, 34,000 residents in high-risk areas had been evacuated, 32 scenic spots closed and several professional sports matches postponed to reduce residents' outdoor activities.

Typhoon Bavi, the ninth typhoon of the year, is expected to make landfall along the coast between Sanmen and Cangnan in Zhejiang in the early hours of Sunday. After landfall, it is forecast to move northwestward and then shift towards a more northerly direction.

In the 24 hours leading up to 2pm on Sunday, it said, torrential rains are expected in large parts of the country.

Even as Bavi continues to slow and weaken on its northwesterly path over cooler seas, the typhoon is still a potent risk due to the sheer volume of moisture it holds within its rain bands, about the size of France from end to end.

"I'm a little worried, but I think it'll be OK. We've been through typhoons before. We'll get through it," said Wenzhou resident Huang Xinghuan, 50, out buying groceries at a traditional wet market before it closed ahead of the typhoon.

Huang said his family had stocked about two to three days' worth of water. "I think supplies are well guaranteed now. There's no need to panic or stockpile a lot of food or other supplies," he added.

In Wenzhou, Chen Qiuqin, in her 60s, walked through steady rain on her way to her parents' home to help them prepare for the approaching typhoon but said she was not too concerned given the government's preparations.

"I was worried about the flowerpots on my mother's balcony, so I'm going to help move them inside. My parents are both elderly and they're home alone, so I wasn't at ease," she said. (Xinhua & Reuters)




Edited by Azam Khan