Taiwan shuts schools and offices as Typhoon Champi kills one and injures 94

Taiwan has closed schools and offices across most of the island as Typhoon Champi approaches its northeastern coast, bringing powerful winds, torrential rain and dangerous waves.

The storm had killed one person and injured 94 others by Friday morning, while authorities had evacuated nearly 1,300 residents from vulnerable areas.

The Central Weather Administration (CWA) said on Friday, 23 October, that Champi was moving towards Taiwan and could bring its heaviest rainfall through Saturday morning.

Although the storm has weakened from its earlier super typhoon status, it remains powerful, with maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometres per hour and gusts reaching 191kph.

At 11am on Friday, the typhoon was centred about 260km south-east of Yilan County, moving north-north-east at 11–15kph, according to the CWA.

The storm’s wind field extends about 320km from its centre, large enough to affect much of Taiwan.

Forecasters have warned that its movement could slow or become erratic as it approaches the island, potentially prolonging exposure to strong winds and heavy rain.

Landfall remains possible as the storm approaches

The CWA issued a land warning on Thursday, after previously issuing a marine warning. Forecasters said Champi was expected to pass close to Taiwan’s north-eastern coast before turning north towards waters near China and eventually moving towards southern Japan.

However, officials have not ruled out a direct landfall. Wu Wan-hua, deputy director of the CWA’s Weather Forecast Center, said the storm could move unpredictably as it approached Taiwan. Its centre was forecast to come within about 80km of the island from late Friday night into early Saturday morning.

Wu said the typhoon’s outer rainbands would bring heavy rain, with the most intense rainfall expected between Friday and Saturday morning.

The CWA forecast extremely heavy rain in northern, north-eastern and central Taiwan, with extremely torrential rain possible in mountainous areas of Yilan County.

Rainfall warnings have also been issued for mountainous areas of Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu and Miaoli counties, as well as other parts of northern and eastern Taiwan.

Under the CWA’s classification, an extremely torrential rain warning means rainfall could exceed 500 millimetres in 24 hours. A torrential rain warning indicates more than 350mm in 24 hours or 200mm within three hours.

The storm has also generated dangerous seas. The CWA reported waves reaching 10 metres in waters to the south-east of Taiwan, while mobile phone alerts warned coastal residents of hazardous waves and strong gusts.

Taiwan’s Premier Cho Jung-tai urged the public to stay away from beaches, rivers and mountainous areas during the storm, particularly as the weather coincides with a long holiday weekend.

One dead, 94 injured as authorities evacuate residents

Taiwan’s Central Emergency Operations Center said one person had died and 94 had been injured as of 6.30am on Friday.

The fatality occurred in Liuqiu Township, Pingtung County, where a man was swept away by waves at a beach on Thursday. Rescuers found him without vital signs at about 2pm, and he was pronounced dead at hospital at around 5pm, according to the centre.

The injuries included 30 people hurt in motorcycle or other traffic accidents, 16 injured in falls and 10 struck by falling objects, including billboards and broken roadside trees. Those injured included two Vietnamese nationals and one Indonesian national.

By 8am, authorities had evacuated 1,286 people from areas considered vulnerable to the storm. Hualien County accounted for 576 evacuees, followed by Yilan County with 351, New Taipei with 278 and Taoyuan with 79. Some of those evacuated in Hualien lived near the Wanli River barrier lake.

The emergency operations centre also issued yellow alerts for 44 streams in Yilan at risk of debris flows, alongside warnings for areas vulnerable to large-scale landslides.

In the north-eastern county of Yilan, authorities distributed sandbags and placed amphibious vehicles and inflatable rescue boats on standby.

Lee Ming-chen, head of the port town of Suao, said the military could assist with evacuations and disaster relief if required.

Schools, offices and financial markets close

Local governments announced that schools and offices would close on Friday across almost all of Taiwan’s main island, as well as the outlying islands of Penghu and Matsu.

Kinmen County was an exception, while most of Taitung County was also expected to operate normally, apart from Green Island and Orchid Island.

The closures affected major population centres including Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung. Some areas had already suspended activities on Thursday as the storm approached.

Taiwan’s financial markets also closed on Friday.

The government regularly announces typhoon-related suspensions of work and school, commonly known as “typhoon days off”, when weather conditions are considered dangerous. Decisions are made by local authorities based on forecasts and the expected impact on their areas.

The closures are intended to limit travel and reduce the risk to residents from flooding, falling objects and dangerous winds.

More than 900 flights cancelled

The typhoon has caused extensive disruption to air travel. Taiwan’s transport ministry said all 262 scheduled domestic flights and 669 international flights had been cancelled for Friday, bringing the total to 931.

Public transport in Taipei continued operating, including the metro, although services were reduced. The high-speed rail service linking northern and southern Taiwan was operating as usual, according to Reuters.

Authorities have also restricted access to some mountainous areas and national parks.

By Friday morning, 1,577 people had entered restricted mountain areas and national parks; six had found safe shelter in the mountains, while the others had left, according to the Central Emergency Operations Center.

Travellers have been advised to check with airlines and transport operators before travelling, as conditions could change while the typhoon remains near the island.

Champi expected to move towards Japan

Champi was previously classified as a super typhoon and was among the strongest storms in the Pacific this year. Although it has weakened, forecasters say its large wind field could keep much of Taiwan exposed to severe weather for nearly two days.

The CWA expects the storm to turn north after approaching Taiwan, moving towards waters near the Chinese coast before heading towards southern Japan. Japan’s westernmost inhabited island, Yonaguni, in Okinawa Prefecture, is among the areas forecast to be affected.

Authorities in Taiwan have urged residents to remain indoors where possible, avoid exposed coastlines and mountainous terrain, and follow official weather and emergency announcements as the storm progresses.