Typhoon Bavi nears Sakishima Islands with 162 km/h winds

A large typhoon approached a remote chain of islands in Japan's southwest on Friday, prompting authorities to warn of violent winds, torrential rain, landslides and flooding. Typhoon Bavi is expected to pass very close to the Sakishima Islands early on Saturday morning, according to meteorological authorities. Maximum sustained winds were topping out at 162 kilometers per hour.

Preparations and cancellations Local residents on Ishigaki taped up windows and draped windproof nets across homes and shops. Airlines grounded dozens of flights in the region. Japan Airlines canceled more than 100 flights for Friday and Saturday, affecting nearly 20,000 passengers.

All Nippon Airways canceled more than 160 flights through Sunday, also disrupting travel for roughly 20,000 people. m. Friday. Some public beaches, coastal parks and the local ferry terminal appeared closed.

Resident and tourist reactions "I heard that this one will be pretty big," said Hiroshi Nomura, as he strung windproof nets across his bicycle rental store. " At a local supermarket, resident Eiken Ishigaki filled his basket with snacks and beer, expecting to be stuck at home on Friday night and Saturday due to potential power outages.

Tourist Kazuo Akaishi, 47, waited at the ferry terminal after services for Friday and Saturday were canceled. "I've never experienced a direct hit like this," he said.

Regional effects In neighboring Taiwan, financial markets closed for the day and a large swathe of the north and east was also off work. The Taipei city government set up stations for locals to collect sandbags. Bavi is not expected to make landfall in Taiwan but will dump large amounts of rain on the island starting late Friday.

Taiwan's airlines canceled all flights on Saturday from the main international airport outside Taipei. Late on Saturday, Bavi is forecast to make landfall around the eastern Chinese city of Wenzhou, home to 10 million people.