Taiwan Halts Operations as Typhoon Champi Approaches with Destructive Winds
Taiwan shuts down as Typhoon Champi nears, forcing nearly 1,000 flight cancellations and mass evacuations. Stay updated on the storm's path and impact.
POLICY WIRE — Taipei, Taiwan — Taiwan effectively ground to a halt on Friday as the island braced for the arrival of Typhoon Champi. While the storm has begun to lose some of its intensity, officials warn that it remains a significant threat capable of making direct landfall.
According to the Central Weather Administration (CWA), the storm is currently situated approximately 137 miles east of Taiwan. Although it was previously classified as a super typhoon—ranking among the most powerful Pacific storms this year—it continues to generate dangerous gusts reaching 119 mph near its core.
The government has already reported one fatality and 94 injuries linked to the storm. Authorities have successfully evacuated nearly 1,300 individuals from vulnerable mountainous regions to ensure public safety.
CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng noted that a direct hit remains a possibility if the typhoon exhibits erratic movement, such as stalling or looping during its approach. Liu added that the storm’s wind radius is exceptionally large compared to recent years, meaning Taiwan could face prolonged exposure to severe weather if the system slows down.
Residents in coastal areas have received emergency mobile alerts warning of gusts exceeding 93 mph, with some northern mountain regions, including areas near Taipei, bracing for nearly 3 feet of rainfall. In Yilan, officials have deployed sandbags and prepared amphibious vehicles and rescue boats for potential emergency response.
Suao port town leader Lee Ming-chen stated that the military is prepared to assist with evacuations and disaster relief efforts using amphibious vehicles if conditions deteriorate. Meanwhile, in Keelung, local boat owners are working to secure their vessels against potential flooding.
The storm’s massive 200-mile radius is expected to blanket most of the island, with weather experts predicting the impact could persist for nearly two days. Financial markets remained closed on Friday, and with the exception of the Kinmen islands, schools and offices across the territory have suspended operations.
The transport ministry confirmed the cancellation of 262 domestic flights and 717 international flights for the day. While the north-south high-speed rail remains operational, Taipei’s public transit and subway systems are running on a reduced schedule.
Following its passage near Taiwan, the typhoon is projected to track toward the Chinese coast before moving into southern Japan, with its first impact expected on the island of Yonaguni in Okinawa Prefecture. Despite the severity of the weather, Taiwan maintains a robust disaster preparedness framework that typically keeps casualty numbers low.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
