Bavi has been described as the worst typhoon in decades. The storm is expected to ravage eastern and northern Taiwan and some Japanese islands on Friday - before moving into China over the weekend.
The typhoon is whipping up waves several metres high and bringing torrential rain. The heavy rains have triggered two major landslides on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, where at least 15 people have died and six are missing, according to local authorities.
In the Taiwanese port city of Keelung, residents are reported to have stockpiled supplies and taped up windows.
"They say it's going to be huge, it's scary," shop owner Chang Shih-Huo in Keelung told AFP about the typhoon.
We have stocked up on instant noodles and bread.
