Much of Taiwan has shut down as Typhoon Champi brings powerful winds, torrential rain and widespread transport disruption to the island.
At least one person has died and 94 people have been injured, while approximately 1,300 residents have been evacuated from vulnerable mountainous areas.
Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration reported Friday morning that Champi’s centre was approximately 330 kilometres east of Taiwan’s southern tip. Maximum sustained winds were around 155 kilometres per hour, with gusts reaching approximately 191 kilometres per hour.
The storm’s wind field is exceptionally large, with a radius of approximately 320 kilometres. Authorities warned that the circulation was already affecting eastern Taiwan and that strong winds and heavy rainfall could affect much of the island.
Reuters reported that all 262 scheduled domestic flights and 669 international flights were cancelled Friday. Financial markets were also closed.
Taiwan’s high-speed rail system was continuing to operate, although other rail, bus and local transport services were being reduced or suspended depending on conditions.
Authorities warned that mountainous areas of northern Taiwan could receive close to one metre of rain. Emergency equipment, including amphibious vehicles and rescue boats, has been positioned in areas considered vulnerable to flooding.
The storm is expected to move north near Taiwan before eventually tracking toward the Chinese coast and southern Japan. Forecasters have cautioned that a change in speed or direction could still alter the severity of its impact.
WHAT WE KNOW: Taiwan remains under official typhoon warnings. The storm’s large circulation means significant effects are possible even without the centre making a direct landfall.
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