In brief
Typhoon Champi intensified near Taiwan, prompting hundreds of flights across East Asia to be cancelled and schools and offices to shut. 90cm of rain and wind gusts up to 191km/h beat the island, leading to a nationwide "typhoon holiday" and the suspension of the Taipei Stock Exchange. 171 people were injured, 1,000 evacuated and one fatality reported after waves swept a citizen away. The storm, powered by a strong El Nino, was the strongest of the year and is expected to linger near China’s coast before turning northwards. Taiwan’s authorities urged residents to stay inland as the weather forecast calls for continued heavy rain through Saturday evening.
Hundreds of flights were cancelled in East Asia as Typhoon Champi rolled in over Taiwan’s north‑east coast.
Schools and offices across the island shut as the storm approached, and the Taipei Stock Exchange closed for the day. In total, over 160 flights were cancelled across four Japanese carriers and additional routes were grounded in Taiwan.
Authorities confirmed that one person was swept away by the towering waves, while 171 others were injured and 1,000 displaced from their homes.
Champi, the latest in a string of intense storms powered by a bolstered El Nino, reached a maximum sustained wind of 185mph, a Category 5 equivalent, earlier this week before weakening slightly.
Meteorologists predict heavy rainfall, peaking on Saturday morning, and warn residents to stay away from coastlines and high‑altitude areas. The storm is expected to drift over the waters off China’s eastern coast before curving toward Japan.
Although the eye of Champi is projected to miss Taiwan, some forecasters remain uncertain, citing potential stalling or looping behaviour that could bring landfall.
The event marks one of the most active typhoon seasons in recent decades, with Japan counting 30 storms, the highest figure since 2013.
