Typhoon Champi: Taiwan cancels over 900 flights as winds weaken

Taiwan suspended all domestic and international air traffic on Friday as Typhoon Champi swept through the region. The Transport Ministry confirmed the cancellation of 262 domestic flights and 669 international flights. Despite the shutdown of the sky, high-speed rail services along the western coast operated normally. The Central Weather Administration advised residents in coastal zones to limit outdoor activities and avoid driving to prevent accidents from falling debris.

The storm system weakened from peak sustained winds of 298 kilometres per hour earlier in the week to 155 kilometres per hour by Friday. Its centre remained offshore as it moved past the northeastern tip of the island. Forecasts indicate the path will turn northward toward Japan's southwestern islands. The typhoon's radius spans approximately 320 kilometres, a width sufficient to cover most of Taiwan's territory.

One person died on Thursday after being swept away by waves in Liuqiu, a small island off the southeastern coast. The fire department reported that 94 others suffered injuries during the storm. Government officials stated that more than 2,600 residents were evacuated from vulnerable mountainous areas. Schools and government offices remained closed on Friday as a precautionary measure.

In the capital, Taipei, the impact was less severe than in other areas. Subway services stayed open, and the city experienced only light showers and gusty winds. Experts project that the storm's most intense effects on Taiwan will persist through Saturday. The system is expected to reach the southern mainland of Japan on Monday.

Southwestern Japan has already faced disruptions. One person was injured in the prefecture of Okinawa, where a woman in her 70s broke a leg on Miyako island due to strong winds. Nearly 2,000 homes on Ishigaki island lost power. Aviation authorities cancelled dozens of flights to and from Miyako, Ishigaki, and Okinawa.

The northern Philippines also felt the storm's reach. The coast guard prohibited ships and ferries from sailing in rough waters off several northern towns. Aviation officials closed the main domestic airport in Basco, the capital of Batanes province, and cancelled two local flights. Workers boarded up windows at the airport as a precaution against high winds.

In Cagayan province, nearly 200 people moved to safer locations. Almost 100 of them sought refuge in government-run emergency shelters. Provincial officials suspended classes at all levels in the island town of Calayan. Earlier this month, Champi passed over several Pacific islands, including Guam, where a federal disaster area was declared.

The storm's trajectory places it on a collision course with more populated areas in the coming days. Japan's southwestern islands are the next major landmass in the storm's path. Authorities in both Taiwan and Japan are monitoring the system's movement closely. The next update from the Central Weather Administration is scheduled for later in the day.