Taiwan Cancels 931 Flights and Evacuates 2,600 as Typhoon Champi Weakens

Typhoon Champi passed close to Taiwan on Friday, prompting authorities to close schools and offices and cancel all air traffic. The Transport Ministry reported that 262 domestic flights and 669 international flights were scrubbed. While the storm weakened, its wide reach covered most of the island, forcing a temporary halt to normal operations in many sectors.

The weather system reached peak sustained winds of 298 km/h earlier this week. By the time it approached from the southeast, those winds had slowed to 155 km/h. Forecasts indicate the storm's center remained offshore as it moved past the northeastern tip of Taiwan. It is now turning northward toward the southwestern islands of Japan.

The storm caused one death and 94 injuries in Taiwan. The fire department confirmed that one person died on Thursday after waves swept them away in Liuqiu, a small island off the southeastern coast. The government ordered the evacuation of more than 2,600 residents from vulnerable mountainous regions. The Central Weather Administration advised coastal residents to avoid driving and stay away from outdoor activities to reduce the risk of falling objects.

Transportation disruptions were severe in the air but limited on land. High-speed rail services along the western coast operated normally. In Taipei, the subway remained open, and the capital experienced only light showers and gusty winds. Experts anticipate the storm's primary impact on Taiwan will continue through Saturday. The system is projected to reach Japan's southern mainland by Monday.

The typhoon also affected the southwestern region of Japan. In the Okinawa prefecture, a woman in her 70s broke a leg in strong winds on Miyako island. Nearly 2,000 homes on Ishigaki island lost electricity. Aviation officials cancelled dozens of flights to and from Miyako, Ishigaki, and Okinawa.

In the northern Philippines, the coast guard prohibited ships and ferries from sailing in rough waters off several towns. The main domestic airport in Basco, the capital of Batanes province, closed its doors. Aviation officials cancelled two local flights and boarded up windows at the facility as a precaution. In Cagayan province, nearly 200 people moved to safer ground, with almost 100 seeking shelter in government-run facilities. Classes were suspended in the island town of Calayan.

Champi previously crossed several Pacific islands, including Guam, where a federal disaster area was declared earlier this month. The storm's radius measures approximately 320 km, a span wide enough to cover the entirety of Taiwan's landmass.