Nearly 1,000 flights have been cancelled in Taiwan as Typhoon Champi approaches the island, bringing strong winds and torrential rain across parts of East Asia.
Taiwan’s transport ministry said all 262 domestic flights and 669 international services scheduled for Friday, October 23, had been cancelled as authorities prepared for the storm’s impact.
Champi, which previously reached super typhoon strength, was packing wind gusts of about 191 kilometres per hour near its centre, according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration.
The storm was located about 330 kilometres east of Taiwan’s southern tip and was forecast to pass close to the island’s northeastern coast before turning north towards China and eventually southern Japan.
Authorities warned that the typhoon’s large wind field, estimated at about 320 kilometres in radius, could expose much of Taiwan to dangerous weather conditions.
Schools, offices and financial markets were closed across most of the island on Friday as officials urged residents to remain cautious. Nearly 1,300 people had been evacuated from vulnerable mountainous areas, while one person had died and 94 others were reported injured.
Heavy rainfall was forecast in northern Taiwan, with some mountainous areas expected to receive close to one metre of rain, raising concerns about flooding and landslides.
The storm has also disrupted travel in Japan, where major airlines, including Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways and Skymark, cancelled more than 100 flights scheduled between Thursday and Sunday, affecting over 11,000 passengers.
In southwestern Japan, a woman was injured by strong winds on Miyako Island, while nearly 2,000 homes on Ishigaki Island lost electricity, according to local authorities.
The Philippines has also experienced disruptions, with ferry services suspended in parts of the north, evacuations carried out in Cagayan province and flights cancelled at Basco Airport.
Although Champi has weakened from its peak intensity, forecasters warned that it could still bring damaging winds and heavy rainfall as it moves past Taiwan towards the Chinese coast and southern Japan.
