Typhoon Champi Batters East Asia: Flights Cancelled, Widespread Disruptions

Typhoon Champi swept through East Asia on Friday, prompting mass cancellations and closures as it moved close to Taiwan’s north-east coast. Authorities suspended schools, workplaces and the nation’s stock exchange amid forecasts of torrential rain and damaging winds; officials warned residents to avoid coastal and mountainous areas.

While forecasts suggested the storm’s eye may pass without making a direct landfall in Taiwan, meteorologists cautioned that sudden shifts in Champi’s track — such as stalling, looping or wobbling — could change that outlook.

Impact and human toll

One person died after being swept away by waves, and authorities reported 171 people injured with around 1,000 evacuees. Local officials implemented safety measures across nearly all of Taiwan’s 22 counties and cities, declaring a widespread typhoon holiday that halted normal activities. Only Kinmen county, an outlying archipelago west of Taiwan’s main island, remained open.

Travel and infrastructure disruptions

Hundreds of flights in the region were cancelled. Taiwan closed its stock exchange for the day, and in Japan, power outages affected nearly 8,400 households in Okinawa prefecture. More than 160 flights were cancelled across four Japanese airlines, and Batanes in the Philippines experienced heavy surf and flooding that forced road closures, though there were no immediate casualty reports from that area.

Storm strength and forecast

At its peak earlier in the week, Champi reached maximum sustained winds of 185 mph (298 km/h) over the Philippine Sea, briefly making it the planet’s strongest storm of the year and the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane. By Friday afternoon, gusts were reported at about 191 kph (119 mph) as the system tracked past Taiwan’s north-eastern tip and the Okinawa islands.

Meteorologists predicted the heaviest rainfall to continue through Saturday, with up to 90 cm (35 in) expected in parts of north-eastern Taiwan. Forecast models showed Champi lingering off China’s eastern coast before turning northeast toward Japan’s main island.

Seasonal context

Champi is the latest in a series of intense typhoons linked to a powerful Super El Niño heating the Pacific Ocean. This season has been unusually active: Champi is Japan’s 30th typhoon of the year, the highest count since 2013. Experts say the strong El Niño is increasing storm frequency and intensity across the region.

Authorities continue to monitor Champi closely and urge residents to heed evacuation orders and safety advisories as the storm evolves. Continued caution is recommended while the system persists in nearby waters.