Typhoon Champi Shuts Down Taiwan: 931 Flights Cancelled, One Dead and 94 Injured

Taiwan ground to a halt on Friday as Typhoon Champi swept past the island, forcing schools and offices to close, grounding hundreds of flights and leaving a trail of injuries and widespread disruption across East Asia. The storm has killed one person and injured 94 in Taiwan, while triggering power outages in Japan and precautionary evacuations in the Philippines.

Champi, which packed maximum sustained winds of around 298 kmph earlier this week, has weakened to approximately 155 kmph as it approached Taiwan from the southwest. Despite losing considerable strength, the typhoon continued to bring powerful winds, torrential rain and dangerous sea conditions. Its centre was expected to remain offshore as it passed the island's northeastern tip before turning north towards Japan's southwestern islands.

The scale of disruption in Taiwan was significant. Authorities cancelled all 262 domestic flights and 669 international flights, while nearly 1,300 people were evacuated from vulnerable mountainous areas. High-speed rail services along the island's western coast continued operating normally. Residents in coastal areas were urged to avoid outdoor activities and unnecessary driving, with warnings about powerful waves and objects being blown about by the wind.

The storm had already claimed a life on Thursday when a person was swept away by waves on Liuqiu, a small island off Taiwan's southeastern coast. The 94 reported injuries underscored the dangers posed by the storm even as its intensity declined.

Across the waters in southwestern Japan, Champi's effects were also being felt. A woman in her 70s suffered a broken leg on Miyako island after being caught in strong winds, while nearly 2,000 homes on Ishigaki island were left without electricity. Dozens of flights serving Okinawa, Miyako and Ishigaki were cancelled, disrupting travel across the island chain.

The Philippines also moved to limit the danger. The Coast Guard barred ships and ferries from venturing into increasingly rough waters off several northern areas. Basco airport in Batanes was closed, two local flights were cancelled and nearly 200 people in Cagayan province evacuated to safer locations. Classes were suspended at all levels on Calayan island.

Champi had earlier passed close to Guam, where damaging winds, heavy rain and power disruptions prompted a federal emergency declaration. Although the typhoon has weakened, its continuing movement towards Japan means the threat of hazardous weather remains. Forecasters warned that heavy to torrential rain could persist in parts of Taiwan even after the storm moves away, keeping flooding risks and further travel disruption in focus over the weekend.