Chaos in Japan Today! Storm Surge Typhoon Bavi Swept Away Homes, Cars in Miyakojima

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) officially upgraded the tropical depression to typhoon status as central barometric pressure plunged sharply, signaling the formation of a highly defined, tightly coiled eye wall. The core of Typhoon Bavi is currently churning through the East China Sea, charting a slow, agonizingly destructive trajectory toward the north-northwest. This sluggish forward velocity—moving at only a fraction of the speed of typical Pacific cyclonic systems—presents a severe compound hazard. The Sakishima Archipelago Core (Including Miyakojima and Ishigakijima): This region is bearing the brunt of the storm's front-right quadrant—traditionally the most dangerous zone of a typhoon. Peak instantaneous wind gusts have been clocked at an astonishing 216 kilometers per hour (approximately 134 miles per hour). The main island of Okinawa is experiencing severe gale-force to storm-force winds. Peak gusts are regularly exceeding 126 kilometers per hour (approximately 78 miles per hour), creating hazardous outdoor environments, bringing down dense vegetation, and bringing commercial urban activity to a complete standstill. in Okinawa, a critical logistical artery connecting mainland Japan with Southeast Asia, has suspended all tarmac and terminal operations. Similar total closures are in effect at Kagoshima Airport and the smaller regional airfields servicing the outlying islands of Ishigaki and Miyako. Stranded passengers are being urged to avoid traveling to airport terminals, as facilities are locked down and unable to accommodate civilian overflow. Flights and ferry services across Ishigaki Island, a popular tourist destination, remained suspended ​for all of Saturday. Airlines canceled 345 flights, and more than 24,000 households in Okinawa lost ​power. “Miyako is taking worst of typhoon Bavi,” professional storm-chaser James Reynolds posted on X from Ishigaki on Saturday. “Conditions on Ishigaki gale force with some overnight gusts to typhoon strength.” Meanwhile, Taiwan’s government has evacuated more than 14,000 people ⁠from mainly mountainous areas as the island shut down for the medium-strength typhoon, which is expected to bring a deluge of rain and ​strong wind in exposed areas. 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 meter of rain in some areas. In the capital, Taipei, there was blustery ‌wind and rain with some people still out on the street. But in Taipei’s Beitou ​neighborhood ​in the foothills of the mountains surrounding the city, gusts of around 100 ​kph knocked down trees and swelled rivers. Bavi is forecast to hit the eastern Chinese city of ⁠Wenzhou, home to 10 million people, early on Sunday. 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. The largest typhoon in several decades caused landslides in the Philippines, resulting in 15 fatalities. The day before, Friday (10/7/2026), Typhoon Bavi moved from Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands towards China, passing through the Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan. In the Philippines, Typhoon Bavi, known locally as Typhoon Inday, triggered landslides that killed 10 people in the city of Malapatan, Sarangani Province on Mindanao Island. The Philippine News Agency reported that five other individuals died in landslides in Lanao del Sur Province, southern Philippines.

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