At least 15 people have lost their lives and six others remain missing after heavy rain triggered two landslides on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao as Typhoon Bavi moved closer to Taiwan and Japan. Authorities said the storm, which earlier intensified into a super typhoon over the Pacific, brought torrential rainfall that caused deadly landslides and widespread disruption. After weakening slightly, Bavi continues to pack maximum sustained winds of around 155 kmph with gusts reaching nearly 190 kmph, prompting emergency alerts across the region.

Taiwan has begun large-scale preparations ahead of the typhoon’s expected landfall, with more than 2,000 residents evacuated from vulnerable areas, particularly in the mountainous Hualien region. Schools and businesses across northern and eastern Taiwan have been closed, while hundreds of domestic and international flights have been cancelled. Residents in cities such as Keelung stocked up on essential supplies, secured homes with sandbags and taped windows as authorities warned of powerful winds, high waves of up to nine metres and the possibility of severe flooding and landslides. More than 28,000 troops have also been placed on standby for emergency response operations.

The storm is forecast to move past Taiwan before approaching Japan’s southwestern islands and eventually making landfall in eastern China over the weekend. Japanese authorities have issued warnings for strong winds, heavy rain and dangerous sea conditions, leading to school closures and business disruptions in several island regions. Meteorologists have also linked the increasing intensity of tropical storms to unusually warm ocean temperatures and the return of the El Niño climate pattern, which can fuel stronger cyclones and heavier rainfall. Officials across East Asia remain on high alert as Typhoon Bavi continues its path through the region.