On Friday, Taiwan closed educational institutions and government offices while grounding hundreds of flights as Typhoon Champi made its way past the island, bringing with it intense winds and heavy rainfall.
Initially, Champi reached maximum sustained winds of 298 kilometers per hour earlier this week, but as it approached Taiwan from the southeast, its winds diminished to 155 kilometers per hour. The storm’s center is predicted to stay offshore as it moves past the northeastern coast of Taiwan and heads north toward Japan’s southwestern islands.
Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration has advised residents in coastal regions to refrain from outdoor activities and driving, urging them to be mindful of objects that may fall.
According to the fire department, one individual lost their life on Thursday after being swept away by waves on Liuqiu, a small island located off the southeastern coast of Taiwan. Additionally, ninety-four others sustained injuries due to the storm.
The government reported that over 2,600 individuals have been evacuated from at-risk mountainous regions.
Taiwan officials urged residents in coastal areas to avoid outdoor activities and driving and be cautious of falling objects. (Ann Wang/Reuters)
The Transport Ministry announced that all 262 domestic flights were canceled, along with 669 international flights. However, high-speed rail services along the western coast continued to operate as usual.
Champi has an extensive radius of approximately 320 kilometers, large enough to affect most of Taiwan, although public transport, including the subway, remained operational in the capital city of Taipei, which experienced only light rain and mild winds.
Experts predict that the storm’s most significant impact on Taiwan will persist through Saturday, with expectations that it will reach Japan’s southern mainland by Monday.
In southwestern Japan, the typhoon has resulted in one injury, flight cancellations, and power outages.
On Miyako island, a woman in her 70s sustained a leg fracture due to the strong winds, as reported by the Okinawa prefecture government. Meanwhile, nearly 2,000 homes on Ishigaki island experienced power outages.
Numerous flights to and from the southwestern islands, including Miyako, Ishigaki, and Okinawa, have been canceled.
In the Philippines, the coast guard has banned ships and ferries from entering the increasingly turbulent waters off several northern towns and cities as of Friday.
According to Philippine aviation officials, the primary domestic airport in Basco, the capital of Batanes province, was closed on Friday, resulting in the cancellation of two local flights. The windows of the airport were boarded up for safety reasons.
In Cagayan province, approximately 200 individuals relocated to safer areas as a precaution, including nearly 100 who sought refuge in government emergency shelters. Provincial officials have announced that classes at all levels in the island town of Calayan have been suspended due to the typhoon.
Earlier this month, Champi passed by multiple Pacific islands, including Guam, where a federal disaster area was declared.