Taipei: Taiwan stepped up preparations for Typhoon Bavi on Wednesday as the storm drew nearer, suspending ferry services to offshore islands, closing tourist attractions, preparing traffic restrictions, and offering flexible airline ticket changes.According to Focus Taiwan, as of 2 p.m. Wednesday, Bavi was located about 1,380 kilometers east-southeast of Cape Eluanbi, Taiwan's southernmost point, moving west-northwest at 17-21 km per hour. The storm, described as a "super typhoon" by the American military's Joint Typhoon Warning Center, had maximum sustained winds of 216 kilometers per hour near its center and a storm radius of 380 kilometers, as reported by the Central Weather Administration (CWA).The CWA indicated that it could issue a sea warning as early as Thursday, followed by a land warning late Thursday or early Friday, with the eye of the storm forecast to pass northeast of Taiwan. The Maritime and Port Bureau announced that all passenger ferry services in eastern Taiwan were suspended Wednesday afternoon, with sailings expected to resume Sunday, weather permitting.The bureau stated that the Keelung-Matsu route will be suspended from Thursday through Saturday, while routes linking Kaohsiung and Budai with Penghu, as well as Donggang and Yanpu with Xiaoliuqiu, will see partial or full suspensions over the same period. Travelers were urged to return from offshore islands on available sailings Wednesday and Thursday and postpone nonessential trips to avoid being stranded.In Taitung County, ferry operators spent Wednesday morning transporting tourists back from Green Island and Orchid Island before afternoon sailings were canceled. Additionally, food and other daily necessities were rushed to the islands. The Coast Guard Administration reported that 86 people had been transported to Taitung County from the county's offshore islands, while 1,325 visitors remained on Green Island.At Fugang Fishing Harbor, more than 10 fishing boat owners hired a crane to lift inflatable fishing rafts onto shore to pr otect them from high winds and waves. Meanwhile, banana farmers in Taitung rushed to harvest crops before the storm, and traditional markets and supermarkets reported about a 30 percent increase in shoppers stocking up on supplies.Authorities announced the preemptive closure of Guishan (Turtle) Island off Yilan County from Thursday through Sunday due to expected high waves and strong winds. On land, the Highway Bureau noted that landslide-prone routes, including the Suhua and Beiyi highways (both part of Provincial Highway No. 9) and the Northern Cross-Island Highway (Provincial Highway No. 7), would be closely monitored.The bureau further warned that the newly opened Danjiang Bridge on Provincial Highway No. 61 could face traffic restrictions if winds strengthen. China Airlines stated it would waive ticket rebooking fees for flights scheduled between Thursday and Saturday if changes are made by July 31, though normal refund rules will still apply.In Taipei, the city government's weather team expected t he city to enter Bavi's storm circle around 8 p.m. Friday, with the heaviest rain expected from Friday evening through Saturday evening. Officials warned of wind gusts of up to 133-149 kph and as much as 400 millimeters of accumulated rainfall during the peak of the storm, with mountainous areas facing the risk of extremely heavy rain.