TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Typhoon Bavi (巴威) battered northern and eastern Taiwan on Saturday (July 11), bringing force 8-9 gusts of 62-88 km/h (39-55 mph) across most of the island. Localized force-12 winds reaching 118-133 km/h (73-83 mph) struck the Hengchun Peninsula. Authorities reported at least 36 injuries and evacuated more than 14,000 residents.
The Central Weather Administration (中央氣象署) said the typhoon's center was approximately 300 km (186 miles) east of Taipei as of 9 a.m. The storm was moving northwest at 25-28 km/h (16-17 mph) toward China's Fujian and Zhejiang provinces.
Lin Po-tung (林伯東), a section chief at the weather administration, warned that the storm's force-7 wind radius reached 350 km (217 miles), with force-10 winds extending 120 km (75 miles) from the center. "Today's rain will be extremely fierce," Lin said in a press briefing. "Please stay indoors in safe locations and follow the instructions of disaster prevention personnel."
The administration issued extreme rainfall warnings as accumulated rainfall since midnight reached 272.5 mm (10.7 inches) at Taipingshan in Yilan County. Taichung's Heping District recorded 214.5 mm (8.4 inches).
Most injuries resulted from motorcycle and bicycle accidents caused by strong winds or slippery roads, the Central Emergency Operations Center (中央災害應變中心) said.
Authorities evacuated 14,210 people nationwide, with Hualien County accounting for 5,170 and Taichung at 2,060.
Transportation networks across northern Taiwan ground to a halt. Taipei Metro suspended all elevated lines, including the Wenhu Line and sections of the Tamsui-Xinyi Line. Taiwan Railways suspended all express trains and halted local services between Keelung and Houlong.
In a separate briefing, Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said Taipei faced peak impact Saturday, with urban wind speeds reaching force-11, or 103-117 km/h (64-73 mph).
Force-12 gusts were recorded at Datun Mountain and Chinese Culture University on Yangmingshan. The city reported 50 damage incidents by 7 a.m., mostly fallen trees and power outages.
Major department stores across northern Taiwan, including Shin Kong Mitsukoshi (新光三越) and Taipei 101, closed for the day. Twenty counties and cities declared work and school suspensions.
The administration said the Matsu Islands would experience peak wind and rain from Saturday night through Sunday morning. Island-wide conditions were expected to improve by Sunday evening. Details on total power outages were not immediately available. ◼
Avoid rivers and low-lying areas. Be alert for strong winds, heavy rainfall, landslides, and falling debris. After passage: Do not go outside immediately (the storm eye may create a temporary calm); watch for downed power lines, avoid floodwater, and check for gas leaks before re-entering buildings. Emergency contacts: General emergencies 119/1999 | Maritime emergencies 118 | Police or disaster reporting 110/119 | Power outages 1911 | Road conditions 1968.
>>> REAL-TIME TYPHOON PATH TRACKING | 即時颱風路徑追蹤:
Monitor the typhoon's projected path, intensity, and timing through these official sources:
01 | Central Weather Administration (CWA, 中央氣象署) — Taiwan's national weather service
→ Typhoon warnings & path forecasts: https://www.cwa.gov.tw/V8/E/P/Typhoon/TY_NEWS.html
→ Interactive typhoon map: https://www.cwa.gov.tw/V8/E/P/Typhoon/TY_TRACK.html
02 | Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) — U.S. Navy's Pacific storm tracking facility
→ Tropical warnings: https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/jtwc.html
03 | Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA, 気象庁) — Japan's official weather authority
→ Tropical cyclone information: https://www.data.jma.go.jp/multi/cyclone/index.html?lang=en
04 | Windy.com — Real-time wind and rain visualization
→ Interactive forecast: https://www.windy.com/?24.800,121.000,7
