Typhoon Bavi pummelled Japan's southern Sakishima island chain with heavy rain and violent winds on Saturday as it headed towards Taiwan, prompting authorities to warn of the risks of floods and landslides.
On the island of Ishigaki, part of Okinawa prefecture, small pieces of debris could be seen flying across empty streets, with only a scattering of vehicles braving the gale and rain.
Boats at a harbour rocked in the strong currents brought on by the large and strong storm, which had maximum sustained winds of 144 kph (90 mph) near its centre. Authorities issued a warning of gusts reaching up to 198 kph.
Flights and ferry services across Ishigaki, a popular tourist destination, remained suspended for all of Saturday. Airlines cancelled 345 flights, and more than 24,000 households in Okinawa lost power.
In neighbouring Taiwan, the government evacuated more than 14,000 people from mainly mountainous areas as the island shut down for the approach of Bavi to the north.
While Bavi, which is gradually weakening, will not make landfall on Taiwan, the government is taking precautions to prevent loss of life, given forecasts for almost 1 metre (3 feet) of rain in some areas.
Most of those evacuated were in areas in the north and east, with 920 international flights cancelled as well as all 280 domestic flights.
Almost all cities and counties across Taiwan declared a typhoon holiday for Saturday, closing any offices and schools that may have been open on the weekend.
In the capital Taipei's downtown area, there was blustery wind and rain with some people still out on the street.
"It's OK, it's not that serious," said Taipei resident Yeh Mao-hsiung, 68, out for a morning walk with his dog. "It's just a little bit more wind."
But in Taipei's Beitou neighbourhood in the foothills of the mountains surrounding the city, gusts of around 100 kph (60 mph) 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.
Kazakhstan has concluded its first election to the new unicameral Kurultai, with turnout reaching 74.19 per cent, as vote counting begins following...
The Democratic Republic of Congo is set to receive 70,000 doses of the Ebola vaccine Ervebo as health authoriti...
U.S. President Donald Trump has vowed...
Iran on Saturday denounced U.S. plans to announce new sanctions that could put further strain on the Islamic Republic's economy and have an impact on its most important trading partners including China.
A large-scale drone attack has hit Russia's Samara region, damaging facilities and disrupting operations at an Ozon logistics complex, according to regional authorities and the company.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected calls for a wartime election, arguing that holding a vote while Russia's full-scale invasion continues would divide the country and undermine national unity.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran was not ready to make what he called the "right deal" with Washington as tensions persisted over the war and the Strait of Hormuz.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 22nd of August, covering the latest developments.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is set to receive 70,000 doses of the Ebola vaccine Ervebo as health authorities race to contain what has become the country's largest Ebola outbreak on record.
Kazakhstanis went to the polls on Sunday in a snap parliamentary election held under the country’s new constitutional system, which replaces the former two-chamber parliament with a single 145-seat legislature known as the Kurultai.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected calls for a wartime election, arguing that holding a vote while Russia's full-scale invasion continues would divide the country and undermine national unity.
Syria expects negotiations with Israel over a security agreement to resume soon despite deep mistrust between the two sides, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said in an interview with Reuters, urging Israel to seize an "historic opportunity" as the door for diplomacy is open.
India's Coast Guard and Navy continued search-and-rescue operations off the eastern coast on Sunday after a Panama-flagged cargo vessel carrying 24 crew sank, with two Chinese nationals rescued, a senior official said.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment