Taipei: Taiwan suspended schools, offices and many transport services on Friday as Typhoon Champi brought strong winds and heavy rain to the island, disrupting air travel, forcing evacuations and leaving at least one person dead. Although the storm has weakened from its earlier peak intensity, authorities have warned that dangerous weather conditions could continue as it moves near northeastern Taiwan.
Taiwan's Central Disaster Response Center reported one death and 94 injuries as of 6.30 am on Friday. The number of people evacuated from vulnerable areas reached 1,286 by 8 am, as emergency authorities continued to respond to the effects of the storm.
The death was reported in Liuqiu Township in Pingtung County, where a man was swept away by waves at a beach below Meiren Cave on Thursday. He was found later that afternoon and died after being taken for medical treatment. Several other people were injured in traffic accidents, falls and incidents involving falling objects, including signs and trees.
Taiwan's Central Weather Administration reported that Champi's centre was about 320 kilometres northeast of Eluanbi, the island's southernmost point, at 8 am on Friday. The storm had maximum sustained winds of about 155 kilometres per hour, with gusts reaching approximately 191 kilometres per hour. Its wind field extended about 320 kilometres from the centre.
The storm was forecast to move near northeastern Taiwan, but authorities had not ruled out the possibility of direct landfall if its movement or direction changed. Despite its weakening intensity, Champi continued to pose a threat because of its strong winds and the possibility of prolonged heavy rainfall.
Heavy to extremely heavy rain was forecast in northern, northeastern and central Taiwan through Saturday morning. Mountainous areas, particularly in Yilan County, faced the possibility of especially heavy rainfall. Authorities warned of the risks of flooding, landslides and dangerous conditions along exposed coastlines.
Air travel suffered major disruption as airlines cancelled flights ahead of the storm. Taiwan's Civil Aviation Administration had announced that all 262 domestic flights scheduled for Friday would be cancelled.
At Taoyuan International Airport, 596 flight movements had been cancelled by 9 am on Friday. The figure included 521 passenger flights and 75 cargo flights. The cancellations affected travellers and the movement of goods through one of Taiwan's main international transport hubs.
Rail services were also disrupted. Taiwan Railway suspended all reserved seat trains on Friday, while some local services were halted or adjusted according to weather conditions. Western high speed rail services were reported to be operating normally, although travellers were advised to check service updates before travelling.
Schools and offices were closed across most of Taiwan as authorities sought to reduce risks to the public. Taiwan's financial markets were also closed on Friday. Kinmen was an exception to the wider shutdown reported across the island.
Evacuations were concentrated in several areas considered vulnerable to the storm. Hualien County reported 576 people evacuated, while 351 people were evacuated in Yilan County and 278 in New Taipei City. Taoyuan City reported another 79 evacuees. Nantou and Yunlin counties each reported one person evacuated.
These figures reflect the situation during the morning of October 23 and may change as emergency teams assess conditions and respond to further reports. Authorities continued to urge residents to follow official warnings and avoid dangerous coastal areas.
Champi has also affected other parts of the region. In southwestern Japan, strong winds caused injuries and disrupted transport. On Miyako Island, a woman in her 70s suffered a broken leg, while nearly 2,000 homes on Ishigaki Island were reported to be without electricity. Flights serving some southwestern Japanese islands were also cancelled.
In the northern Philippines, the storm was being tracked under the local name Rosal. Ferry and shipping services were suspended in some areas, while Basco's main domestic airport was closed. Nearly 200 people were reported to have been evacuated in Cagayan province.
The disruption across Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines highlights the wide reach of the storm system. Even as Champi loses strength, its broad circulation continues to affect communities far from its centre.
For Taiwan, the immediate concern remains the combination of strong winds, heavy rainfall and the possibility of further disruption. Authorities are monitoring the storm's movement and its effects on vulnerable communities, while residents face uncertainty over when transport services and normal public activities can fully resume.
The final extent of the damage, the total number of people affected and the timetable for restoring disrupted services were not yet clear on Friday morning.