Typhoon Bavi hits Japan leaves thousands of homes without power

Maintenance teams rush to repair damaged power lines on the island of Ishigaki, in southern Japan, on Saturday (11), after Typhoon Bavi passed through the island, bringing violent winds and heavy rain.

According to media reports, more than four thousand homes were left without power in Ishigaki and the neighboring islands of Yaeyama.

Japanese authorities have issued a warning for strong winds that could reach up to 216 km/h, which remains in effect into the late afternoon.

Debris, such as fallen tree branches and overturned bicycles, could be seen scattered across the island's streets.

Flights and ferry services across the island remained suspended throughout Saturday, but are expected to resume on Sunday (12), according to local media reports.

Authorities have warned residents to remain on high alert due to strong winds, landslides, flooding and storm surges.

Even as Bavi loses speed and weakens on its northwest track over cooler seas, the typhoon still poses a considerable risk due to the enormous volume of moisture it carries in its rain bands, which are roughly the size of France from tip to tip.

The storm is forecast to make landfall in the eastern Chinese city of Wenzhou, home to about 10 million people, early Sunday morning.

Source: CNN