YILAN, Taiwan (Azat TV) – Almost all of Taiwan suspended normal operations on Friday, Oct. 23, as Typhoon Champi approached the island with severe winds and torrential downpours, according to reporting by Channel NewsAsia. Although the storm has weakened from its previous super typhoon status—which made it one of the strongest Pacific storms this year—it was still packing center gusts of approximately 191km/h.
Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration (CWA) reported that the storm was located about 320km east of the island’s southern tip. Forecasters noted that Champi possesses a vast wind radius of roughly 320km, making it large enough to cover most of Taiwan and threatening to prolong the severe weather impacts for nearly two days.
Transportation Disruption and Market Closures
The storm’s approach prompted widespread disruption across the island’s infrastructure. Taiwan’s transport ministry confirmed that all 262 domestic flights and 669 international flights were cancelled for Friday. Financial markets were also closed, and schools and offices shuttered across nearly every region, with the exception of the Taiwan-controlled Kinmen islands near the Chinese coast.
In the capital, Taipei, squally showers battered the streets while public transport, including the subway system, operated on a reduced schedule. Meanwhile, the north-south high-speed rail service maintained normal operations despite the worsening conditions.
Emergency Preparations and Evacuations
Local authorities across coastal and mountainous regions rushed to secure areas vulnerable to flooding and landslides. The government reported that nearly 1,300 residents had been evacuated from mountainous areas, while mobile phone alerts warned coastal residents of gusts exceeding 150km/h and urged immediate shelter.
In the northeastern county of Yilan, authorities distributed sandbags and positioned amphibious vehicles and inflatable rescue boats on standby. Lee Ming-chen, head of the port town of Suao, stated that the military was prepared to assist with evacuations and disaster relief if necessary, drawing on precautions from previous severe storms.
Forecast Track and Regional Threat
CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng told Channel NewsAsia that a direct landfall on Taiwan could not be completely ruled out if the storm stalls, loops, or wobbles during its approach. The official forecast track indicates that Champi will pass just off northeastern Taiwan before turning north toward the Chinese coast and eventually moving into southern Japan, initially threatening Japan’s westernmost inhabited island of Yonaguni in Okinawa Prefecture.
While one fatality and 94 injuries were reported in connection with the storm’s advance, officials noted that Taiwan’s robust preparation framework generally helps keep casualties low during seasonal typhoons.