Taiwan and eastern China remained on high alert as Typhoon Bavi moved closer on Saturday after bringing strong winds and heavy rain to Japan's southern islands.

The typhoon, with maximum sustained winds of 144 kilometres per hour (89 mph), is expected to pass north of Taiwan before heading toward China's eastern coast. Taiwan's Central Weather Administration said the storm is forecast to move toward Zhejiang province and make landfall in the early hours of Sunday, according to China's National Meteorological Center.

In Japan's Okinawa prefecture, authorities warned residents about high waves, powerful winds and storm surges. More than 200 flights were cancelled across the region, Japan's public broadcaster NHK reported. Islands including Ishigaki were hit by heavy rain and strong winds.

In Taiwan, the Central Emergency Operation Center said at least 36 people had been injured by Saturday morning. Many were hurt while riding motorcycles on wet and slippery roads during the storm.

Authorities also evacuated 14,210 people from different parts of the island, including Hualien County and the central city of Taichung. Schools and government offices remained closed in most areas on Saturday.

In southeastern China, coastal cities stepped up preparations as the storm approached.

In Ningde city of Fujian province, more than 3,700 residents had been moved from high-risk coastal areas by Friday evening, according to the state-run Xinhua News Agency. Provincial authorities have also placed more than 17,000 emergency rescue workers on standby.

China's National Meteorological Center issued an orange alert for the typhoon, the second-highest level in its four-tier warning system. Many schools and ferry services were suspended, hundreds of flights were cancelled and some high-speed train services were halted.

The weather agency also issued its first red alert of the year for heavy rain, state broadcaster CCTV reported.