Typhoon Bavi: flights and trains cancelled as China steps up emergency preparations

Authorities across eastern China have stepped up their emergency preparations and cancelled hundreds of flights as Typhoon Bavi, the ninth storm of the season, intensified overnight and barrelled towards the coast on Saturday.

The storm is forecast to make landfall between Taizhou in Zhejiang province and Fuding in Fujian province in the early hours of Sunday, packing winds of up to 45 metres per second (148 feet per second), according to the National Meteorological Centre (NMC).

In its 6am bulletin on Saturday, the NMC said Bavi had regained strength – reaching severe typhoon status at midnight. Its centre was located about 540km (340 miles) away from the Zhejiang-Fujian border.

Moving northwest at up to 35km per hour, the typhoon is expected to maintain its intensity before landfall, then turn north-northwestward and gradually weaken inland.

Emergency response teams have already been mobilised in the affected regions, including firefighters and crews to repair power grids.

The East China Sea Rescue Bureau put vessels and crews on standby. Fujian and Taizhou have also equipped and activated thousands of local volunteers who are on 24-hour standby to respond to the typhoon.