931 flights scrapped as Typhoon Champi drops to 155 km/h

Taiwan’s transport ministry canceled 931 flights on Friday as Typhoon Champi passed close to the island. The cancellation included all 262 domestic flights and 669 international flights. High-speed rail services along the western coast continued to operate normally despite the weather.

The storm reached maximum sustained winds of 298 kilometers per hour earlier in the week. It has since weakened to 155 kilometers per hour while approaching from the southeast. Forecasts indicate the center will remain offshore as it moves past the northeastern tip of the island before turning north toward Japan.

One person died on Thursday after waves swept them away in Liuqiu, a small island off the southeastern coast. The fire department reported 94 other injuries across the region. Government officials stated that more than 2,600 people were evacuated from vulnerable mountainous areas.

The Central Weather Administration advised residents in coastal zones to avoid outdoor activities and driving. Officials warned people to watch for falling objects. In Taipei, the subway remained open, and the city experienced only light showers and gusty winds.

Champi has a radius of approximately 320 kilometers, which covers most of Taiwan. Experts expect the storm's most severe effects on the island to last through Saturday. The system is projected to reach Japan's southern mainland on Monday.

In southwestern Japan, the typhoon injured one person and cut power to nearly 2,000 homes on Ishigaki island. Dozens of flights to and from Miyako, Ishigaki, and Okinawa were canceled. A woman in her 70s broke a leg in strong winds on Miyako island, according to the Okinawa prefecture government.

The northern Philippines also felt the impact of the storm. Coast guards barred ships and ferries from sailing off several northern towns on Friday. The main airport in Basco, the capital of Batanes province, closed its doors and canceled two local flights. Officials boarded up airport windows as a precaution. In Cagayan province, nearly 200 people moved to safer ground, with almost 100 seeking shelter in government facilities. Classes were suspended in the island town of Calayan.