Typhoon Champi Hits Taiwan: One Dead, 500 Injured As Storm Sweeps Past Island

Typhoon Champi Leaves One Dead, Over 500 Injured In Taiwan As Storm Heads Towards China

Typhoon Champi swept past Taiwan on Saturday, leaving one person dead and more than 500 injured, while strong winds and torrential rainfall brought down trees and disrupted electricity supplies across parts of the island. The storm is gradually weakening as it moves north towards the Chinese coast, with southern Japan also featuring in its projected path.

Once classified as a super typhoon and regarded as one of the strongest storms in the Pacific this year, Champi continued to produce powerful winds despite losing strength. Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration (CWA) reported gusts of around 126 kilometres per hour near the storm’s centre.

The typhoon was located approximately 150 kilometres east of Taiwan after passing close to the island’s northeastern coastline in the early hours of Saturday.

One Dead, 527 Injured As Storm Batters Taiwan
Taiwan’s fire department confirmed one fatality and reported 527 injuries caused by the severe weather. The person killed was a man who was swept away by waves near Liuqiu Island.

Heavy rain and powerful winds affected several areas, bringing down trees and creating hazardous conditions for residents. In Taipei, the capital, intermittent squally showers and fallen trees were reported as the storm passed offshore.

Although Taiwan has extensive preparedness measures for typhoons, the latest storm disrupted daily life across the island.

Power Outages Affect More Than 167,000 Homes
The typhoon also caused widespread electricity disruptions. According to Taipower, more than 167,000 households had lost power at one point during the storm. Most affected homes had their electricity restored as repair and recovery operations continued.

Authorities monitored the situation as the weather system moved farther away from Taiwan, while emergency teams worked to address damage caused by the strong winds and heavy rainfall.

Hundreds Of Flights Cancelled, Schools And Offices Shut
The storm significantly disrupted air travel. Taiwan’s transport ministry reported that 242 flights were cancelled on Saturday, a substantial improvement from Friday, when cancellations approached 1,000.

Authorities in Taipei and several parts of northern and central Taiwan announced a second consecutive day of school and office closures as a precaution against the continuing adverse weather conditions.

The closures were intended to limit public exposure to dangerous conditions while the island dealt with the immediate effects of the typhoon.

Typhoon Champi Moves Towards The Chinese Coast
According to the CWA’s forecast, Champi is turning north towards the Chinese coastline and is expected to continue along a path that could eventually take it towards southern Japan.

Although the storm is weakening, officials continue to monitor its movement and the potential impact of its remaining strong winds.

Typhoons are common in the western Pacific, particularly during the summer months, but they can also develop or affect the region during autumn. Taiwan’s extensive emergency planning and early-warning systems generally help limit casualties, although powerful storms can still cause significant damage and disruption.

With Champi moving away from the island, attention is shifting towards recovery efforts and the storm’s projected path beyond Taiwan.