Typhoon Bavi makes landfall in eastern China as more than 1 million are evacuated

(AP)

Typhoon Bavi made landfall in China’s eastern province of Zhejiang late on Saturday night and was expected to gradually weaken, state media reported.

Bavi previously brought strong winds and rain to Japan’s southern islands.

It was the second typhoon in a week to impact China in just over a week’s time. The first, Maysak, made landfall in southern China last weekend.

Chinese authorities evacuated more than 1.7 million people on Saturday and issued high alerts as eastern China braced for Bavi, which had maximum sustained winds of 144 kmph (89 mph) near its center.

Bavi is expected to move northwestward inland after making landfall, with its intensity gradually weakening.