Typhoon Champi cancels 931 Taiwan flights as winds slow
The storm killed one person and injured 94 others, forcing the evacuation of 2,600 residents from mountainous areas.
By Natalia Costa ·
Typhoon Champi forced the cancellation of 931 flights across Taiwan on Friday as the storm moved past the island's northeastern tip. The Transport Ministry grounded all 262 domestic routes and 669 international services. High-speed rail lines along the western coast maintained normal operations despite the weather.
The system reached peak sustained winds of 298 kilometres per hour earlier in the week. It has since slowed to 155 kilometres per hour while approaching from the southeast. Forecasts indicate the storm's center will remain offshore before turning north toward Japan's southwestern islands.
One person died on Thursday after waves swept them away in Liuqiu, a small island off the southeastern coast. The fire department confirmed the fatality. Authorities reported that 94 additional people sustained injuries during the storm. More than 2,600 residents left vulnerable mountainous areas following government orders.
Taiwan's Central Weather Administration advised coastal residents to avoid outdoor activities and driving. Officials warned the public to watch for falling objects. The storm has a radius of approximately 320 kilometres, a size large enough to cover most of the island.
Transport services in Taipei, including the subway, stayed open. The capital experienced only light showers and gusty winds. Experts predict the storm's primary impact on Taiwan will continue through Saturday. The system is expected to reach Japan's southern mainland on Monday.
The typhoon has already affected southwestern Japan, where one person was injured and power was cut to nearly 2,000 homes on Ishigaki island. A woman in her 70s broke a leg in strong winds on Miyako island. Dozens of flights to and from Miyako, Ishigaki, and Okinawa were cancelled.
In the northern Philippines, coast guard officials barred ships and ferries from sailing in rough waters off several towns. The main domestic airport in Basco, the capital of Batanes province, closed and cancelled two local flights. Officials boarded up airport windows as a precaution. In Cagayan province, nearly 200 people moved to safer ground, with almost 100 taking shelter in government-run facilities. Classes were suspended in the island town of Calayan.
