Taiwan Scraps 931 Flights and Evacuates 2,600 as Typhoon Champi Weakens
The storm weakened to 155 km/h winds but still forced the closure of schools, offices, and all air traffic across the island on Friday.
By Ivan Dvorak ·
Typhoon Champi passed near Taiwan on Friday, prompting the government to close schools and offices and cancel every scheduled flight. The storm system weakened to sustained winds of 155 kilometres per hour as it moved from the southeast, after reaching a peak of 298 kilometres per hour earlier in the week. Its path kept the storm center offshore as it passed the northeastern tip of the island before turning north toward Japan.
The Transport Ministry reported the cancellation of all 262 domestic flights and 669 international flights. High-speed rail lines along the western coast continued to operate without interruption. In Taipei, the capital, subway services remained open and residents reported only light rain and gusty winds. The storm's broad radius of approximately 320 kilometres covered most of the island, yet the Central Weather Administration advised coastal residents to avoid driving and stay indoors to watch for falling debris.
The weather event resulted in one death and 94 injuries. Fire department officials confirmed that a person was swept away by waves on Thursday in Liuqiu, a small island off the southeastern coast. The government stated that more than 2,600 people were evacuated from vulnerable mountainous regions. Experts indicated that the most severe impacts on Taiwan would persist through Saturday, with the system expected to reach Japan's southern mainland by Monday.
The typhoon also disrupted life in southwestern Japan. In the Okinawa prefecture, a woman in her 70s suffered a broken leg from strong winds on Miyako Island. Nearly 2,000 homes on Ishigaki Island lost power. Aviation officials confirmed that dozens of flights to and from Miyako, Ishigaki, and Okinawa were cancelled.
In the northern Philippines, the coast guard ordered ships and ferries to stay in port due to rough waters. The main airport in Basco, the capital of Batanes province, closed and cancelled two local flights. Officials boarded up windows at the airport as a precaution. In Cagayan province, nearly 200 people relocated to safer ground, with almost 100 taking shelter in government-run emergency facilities. Classes were suspended in the island town of Calayan.
Champi had previously passed over several Pacific islands earlier in the month, including Guam, where authorities declared a federal disaster area.
