Taiwan Scraps 931 Flights as Typhoon Champi Weakened to 155 km/h
The storm killed one person and forced 2,600 evacuations while its radius covered most of the island.
By Tyler Khalil ·
Taiwan's Transport Ministry cancelled all 931 flights scheduled for Friday, including 262 domestic routes and 669 international departures. The suspension occurred as Typhoon Champi passed close to the island, bringing heavy rain and strong winds despite a drop in intensity.
The storm weakened to sustained winds of 155 kilometres per hour as it approached from the southeast. This figure is down from a peak of 298 kilometres per hour recorded earlier in the week. Forecasts indicate the storm's centre remained offshore as it moved past the northeastern tip before turning toward Japan's southwestern islands.
The fire department reported one death on Thursday when waves swept a person away in Liuqiu, a small island off the southeastern coast. Ninety-four others were injured in the storm. Government officials said more than 2,600 residents were evacuated from vulnerable mountainous areas.
The Central Weather Administration urged people in coastal regions to avoid driving and outdoor activities due to the risk of falling objects. Transport services in Taipei, including the subway, remained open, and the capital experienced only light showers and gusty winds. High-speed rail along the western coast also continued operating normally.
Experts expect the storm's greatest impact on Taiwan to last through Saturday. The system is projected to reach Japan's southern mainland on Monday. In the meantime, the typhoon has already disrupted conditions in southwestern Japan, where nearly 2,000 homes on Ishigaki island lost power and a woman in her 70s broke a leg in Miyako.
The storm also affected the northern Philippines on Friday. The coast guard barred ships and ferries from sailing in rough waters off several northern towns. The main domestic airport in Basco, the capital of Batanes province, closed and cancelled two local flights. Officials boarded up windows at the airport as a precaution.
In Cagayan province, nearly 200 people moved to safer ground. Almost 100 of them went to government-run emergency shelters. Provincial officials suspended classes at all levels in the island town of Calayan. Champi had previously passed over several Pacific islands, including Guam, where a federal disaster area was declared earlier this month.
