The fatalities occurred on the island of Mindanao, where overnight landslides buried several families. Rescue teams continue to search for missing people as moderate to heavy rainfall is expected to persist through the weekend.
Typhoon Bavi, stretching nearly 1,000 kilometres across, is moving through the Pacific Ocean towards Taiwan. Forecasters expect the storm to bring torrential rain to northern and eastern Taiwan, Japan s remote southern islands and south-eastern China before making landfall on Saturday.
Taiwan s Central Weather Administration warned that some areas could receive up to one metre of rainfall, while the island s defence ministry has placed around 29,000 troops on standby to assist with emergency response and relief operations.
Authorities said Bavi is expected to be the largest typhoon by size to strike Taiwan since 1987.
Schools have suspended classes across affected regions, dozens of flights have been cancelled and residents have rushed to stock up on essential supplies ahead of the storm.
Farmers have been harvesting crops early or taking protective measures, while fishermen have secured their boats before the typhoon s arrival.
"Don t be fooled by the calm weather now. A storm like this could be the most terrifying," fisherman Chen Ming-hui told Reuters.
China has also warned that the typhoon could have a significant impact after making landfall in Fujian province, with meteorologists cautioning that its remnants may move northwards towards Jiangsu, Anhui and the Bohai Sea region.
Chinese environmental expert Ma Jun said northern provinces, which have less experience dealing with typhoons, should strengthen preparedness as forecasts suggest Bavi could make landfall more than once.
In Japan, residents of the Sakishima Islands have taken precautionary measures, including reinforcing homes and businesses with protective coverings.
Japan Airlines has cancelled more than 100 flights for Friday and Saturday, affecting nearly 20,000 passengers, while All Nippon Airways has grounded more than 160 flights through Sunday.
Thai Airways and Malaysia Airlines have also suspended several flights to and from Taipei.
The latest storm comes just days after Typhoon Maysak struck southern China, killing at least 39 people, forcing more than 130,000 residents to evacuate and causing widespread damage to agriculture and infrastructure.
