OMM Newsroom
Authorities suspended activities across almost all of Taiwan on Friday as Typhoon Champi approached. The storm is forecast to bring strong winds and torrential rain. Although it has weakened, it could still make direct landfall on the island.
According to AnewZ, Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration said winds near the typhoon’s center were reaching about 191 kilometers per hour. Champi briefly reached super typhoon status and was one of the strongest storms recorded in the Pacific this year.
The typhoon was about 320 kilometers east of Taiwan’s southern tip. Its projected path would take it past the island’s northeastern coast, then turn north toward China’s coast before heading toward southern Japan.
The Taiwan government said one person had died and 94 had been injured as a result of the storm. About 1,300 people were evacuated from mountainous areas.
Direct landfall on the island remains possible
Liu Pei-teng, a forecaster at Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration, told Reuters that direct landfall could not be ruled out if the typhoon stalls, loops or shifts sideways as it approaches the island.
“The storm’s wind radius is quite large, among the largest recorded in recent years. If the typhoon slows down, strong winds will affect Taiwan for a longer period,” Liu said.
Residents of coastal cities received mobile phone alerts warning of winds exceeding 150 kilometers per hour and advising them to seek shelter immediately. About one meter of rain was forecast in northern mountainous areas, including around Taipei.
Strong winds and torrential rain intensified in Yilan County in the northeast. With the typhoon expected to pass near the area on Friday, officials distributed sandbags and put amphibious vehicles and inflatable rescue boats on standby.
Li Mincheng, head of the port town of Suao, which has experienced severe flooding during previous typhoons, said the military would assist residents if needed, including by using amphibious vehicles for evacuations and disaster response.
931 domestic and international flights canceled
Taiwan’s financial markets also remained closed on Friday. Schools and offices on the Taiwan-controlled Kinmen Islands, off the coast of China, were to operate as usual.
The Ministry of Transportation said 262 domestic and 669 international flights were canceled on Friday. High-speed rail services running north to south operated on their regular schedules.
