Taiwan shut down most of its public activities on Friday as Typhoon Champi approached the island, bringing the threat of powerful winds and torrential rainfall despite a gradual weakening of the storm.
Authorities cancelled nearly 1,000 flights, closed financial markets and evacuated about 1,300 people from mountainous areas as officials prepared for possible flooding and other weather-related emergencies.
One person was killed and 94 others injured, according to the Taiwanese government, as the typhoon approached the island’s northeastern coast.
The storm, which was previously classified as a super typhoon and ranked among the strongest Pacific storms this year, was still producing wind gusts of about 191 kilometres per hour near its centre, Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration said.
Champi was located approximately 320 kilometres east of Taiwan’s southern tip.
Although its projected path suggested it would pass close to the northeastern coast before turning north towards China and eventually moving towards southern Japan, forecasters warned that a direct landfall remained possible.
Central Weather Administration forecaster Liu Pei-teng told Reuters that landfall could not be ruled out if the storm “stalls, loops, or wobbles from side to side” as it approaches the island.
“The storm’s wind radius is quite large, among the bigger ones in recent years,” Liu said. “If the storm slows down, the strong winds will affect Taiwan for longer.”
Authorities issued mobile phone alerts to residents in coastal communities, warning that wind gusts could exceed 150 kilometres per hour and urging people to seek immediate shelter.
Northern mountainous areas, including locations around the capital, Taipei, were also forecast to receive nearly one metre of rainfall.
In Yilan County, in northeastern Taiwan, strong winds and heavy rain intensified ahead of the storm’s expected close passage later on Friday.
Officials distributed sandbags and placed amphibious vehicles and inflatable rescue boats on standby to support emergency operations.
“When necessary, the military will come in to help people, including using amphibious vehicles for evacuations or disaster relief,” said Lee Ming-chen, head of the port town of Suao, which has suffered severe flooding during previous typhoons.
Weather officials estimated that Champi’s wind field extended approximately 320 kilometres, large enough to cover most of Taiwan.
Experts warned that the storm’s effects could persist for almost two days.
The island’s financial markets were closed on Friday, while schools and offices were suspended across most areas.
The Taiwan-controlled Kinmen islands, located close to China’s coast, were exempted from the shutdown and continued normal operations.
The transport ministry announced that all 262 domestic flights scheduled for Friday had been cancelled, alongside 669 international flights, bringing the total to 931.
However, high-speed rail services connecting northern and southern Taiwan continued to operate normally.
Public transport in Taipei, including the subway system, remained operational, although services were reduced amid intermittent heavy showers and strong winds.
Taiwan has extensive preparations for typhoons, a factor that generally helps limit casualties.
While the storms occur more frequently during summer, they can also affect the island in autumn.
Champi is expected to pass over Yonaguni, the westernmost inhabited island in Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture, as the storm continues its projected movement towards the north.
