Taipei/Ishigaki, Okinawa Pref. ¨C Typhoon Bavi pummeled Japan¡¯s southern Sakishima Island chain with heavy rain and violent winds on Saturday as it headed toward Taiwan, prompting authorities to warn of flooding risks 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 local harbor rocked in the strong currents brought on by the large and strong storm, ?which had maximum sustained winds of 144 kilometers per hour near its center. 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.
As of Saturday morning, the storm was moving north-northwest in an area some 90 kilometers from Okinawa¡¯s Miyako Island, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
While the storm was expected to pass through the area in the afternoon, the agency warned of continued strong winds and rain.
Taiwan¡¯s government, meanwhile, 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.
Most of ?those evacuated were in areas in the north and east, with 917 international ?flights canceled as well ?as all 274 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 ?over ?the weekend. The main north-south high speed rail line remained open, but with a reduced service.
In the capital, Taipei, 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.¡±
After passing by Taiwan ?to the northeast having crossed Japan¡¯s Sakishima Islands, a remote island chain that is part of Okinawa Prefecture, Bavi is forecast to hit ?the eastern Chinese city of Wenzhou, home to 10 million people, early Sunday.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.