OMM Newsroom
Typhoon Champi left one person dead and 527 injured on Taiwan on Saturday as it passed near the island, AnewZ reported. Strong winds and torrential rain toppled trees, disrupted power supplies and caused transport problems.
According to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration, Champi, one of the strongest Pacific storms of the year and formerly a super typhoon, had weakened by Saturday, but winds near its center reached about 126 kilometers per hour.
The storm was about 170 kilometers northeast of Taiwan after passing near the coast of Yilan County on Saturday morning. Its center turned south around midnight and moved along the Yilan coast before making a rare loop over the sea and heading north. Forecasters said the storm would turn north, move along the Chinese coast and eventually reach southern Japan.
Taiwan’s fire department said the person who died was a man swept away by waves near Liuqiu Island.
Residents of coastal towns received mobile phone alerts warning that wind speeds could exceed 150 kilometers per hour and urging them to seek shelter immediately. Rainfall of about one meter was forecast in mountainous areas in the north, including around Taipei.
Yilan residents said the storm intensified as Champi passed close to shore, particularly around midnight. A retired teacher surnamed Lin, looking at banana trees toppled in his garden, told Reuters: “The most frightening time was around midnight. I spent the night awake. I haven’t seen anything like this in many years.”
Local authorities in northern and central Taiwan, including Taipei, announced that schools and workplaces would remain closed for a second day on Saturday.
The transport ministry said 259 flights were canceled on Saturday, following nearly 1,000 cancellations on Friday. In Taipei, trees were toppled and heavy rain fell intermittently.
As Champi approached, China’s Ministry of Emergency Management dispatched a team to eastern Zhejiang province and warned of strong winds and torrential rain through Sunday.
Chinese authorities said 400 rescuers and 600 pieces of equipment had been put on standby, while more than 41,000 firefighters had been mobilized for emergency response.
In Taizhou, more than 3,800 fishing boats returned to port, workers at offshore fish farms were brought ashore, and 2,084 people visiting islands were evacuated. Authorities also halted 25 offshore construction projects and temporarily suspended 18 passenger ferry routes.
