Almost all of Taiwan experienced shutdowns on Friday due to Typhoon Champi, which brought strong winds and heavy rain. Once classified as a super typhoon, Champi was still producing gusts of around 191 kph (119 mph) near its center. The storm was about 170 km (106 miles) east of Taiwan, and forecasts indicated it would pass just off northeastern Taiwan, move north toward the Chinese coast, and eventually reach southern Japan.
As a result of the storm, one person died, and 163 were injured, with the number of injuries revised down from 171. The government evacuated 2,639 people from mountainous areas, and over 77,000 homes lost power, although most had their electricity restored. Taiwan’s largest chipmaker, TSMC, reported no significant impact on operations.
Forecasters cautioned that the typhoon could still make landfall if it slows down on approach. Mobile alerts warned coastal residents of gusts over 150 kph (93 mph) and urged them to seek shelter, with nearly a meter (3 feet) of rain expected in northern mountainous areas. In Yilan County, authorities prepared sandbags and rescue vehicles as the storm approached. In Keelung, residents secured boats, expressing concerns about possible flooding.
The storm’s large radius of around 320 km (200 miles) could impact most of Taiwan for nearly two days. Taiwan’s financial markets closed, while all domestic flights were canceled along with many international ones. Public transport continued to operate in Taipei, but service was reduced. The typhoon is set to pass over Japan’s Yonaguni Island next.
With information from Reuters
