Taiwan cancels 931 flights as Typhoon Champi weakens
The storm's winds dropped to 155 km/h, but 2,600 people were evacuated and one person died before the system moved north.
By Mei Ling ·
Typhoon Champi passed close to Taiwan on Friday, forcing the island to shut down schools and offices while grounding its entire air traffic network. The weather event brought heavy rain and strong gusts to the region.
The storm had maximum sustained winds of 298 km/h earlier in the week. By the time it approached from the southeast, those winds had dropped to 155 km/h. Forecasters indicated the center of the system would stay offshore as it moved past the northeastern tip of the island before turning toward Japan.
The death toll reached one on Thursday when a person was swept away by waves in Liuqiu, a small island off the southeastern coast. The fire department reported the incident, and government officials said 94 others were injured. More than 2,600 people were evacuated from mountainous areas deemed vulnerable.
The Central Weather Administration advised residents in coastal zones to avoid outdoor activities and driving. They also warned people to watch for falling objects during the passage of the storm.
The Transport Ministry canceled all 262 domestic flights and 669 international flights. High-speed rail services along the western coast continued to operate without interruption. In Taipei, the subway remained open, and the city experienced only light showers and gusty winds.
The storm's radius measured approximately 320 km, covering most of Taiwan. Experts said the greatest impact on the island would last through Saturday. The system is expected to reach Japan's southern mainland on Monday.
In southwestern Japan, the typhoon injured one person and cut power to nearly 2,000 homes on Ishigaki island. A woman in her 70s broke a leg on Miyako island. Dozens of flights to and from Miyako, Ishigaki, and Okinawa were canceled. In the northern Philippines, the coast guard barred ships from sailing off several towns. The main airport in Basco, Batanes, closed and canceled two local flights, with windows boarded up as a precaution. In Cagayan province, nearly 200 people moved to safer ground, including almost 100 who went to government shelters.
Source: CBC News
