Typhoon Champi disrupts life in Taiwan
As Typhoon Champi approaches, almost all of Taiwan shut down on Friday, with forecasts of strong winds and torrential rain. Although the storm is weakening, it could still make direct landfall on the island, reports BritPanorama.
Initially classified as a super typhoon and one of the strongest storms to hit the Pacific this year, Champi is still generating gusts around 119 mph near its centre, according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration (CWA). The storm was located approximately 137 miles east of Taiwan and is expected to pass just off the northeastern coast before moving north towards the Chinese mainland and eventually reaching southern Japan.
One fatality has been reported along with 94 injuries. The Taiwanese government confirmed that almost 1,300 people had been evacuated from mountainous regions as a precaution. CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng indicated that if the storm “stalls, loops or wobbles from side to side” during its approach, landfall could still occur.
“The storm’s wind radius is quite large, among the bigger ones in recent years,” Liu noted. “If the storm slows down, the strong winds will affect Taiwan for longer.”
Coastal towns received mobile phone alerts warning of gusts exceeding 93 mph and urging residents to seek immediate shelter, while forecasts predict nearly 3 feet of rain in northern mountainous areas, including Taipei.
In Yilan, where strong winds and heavy rains were intensifying, authorities distributed sandbags and prepared amphibious vehicles and inflatable rescue boats for potential evacuation and disaster relief. “When necessary, the military will come in to help people,” stated Lee Ming-chen, head of Suao, a port town previously struck by severe flooding.
Meanwhile, in the northern port city of Keelung, boat owners took precautions to secure their vessels. Construction worker Liu Yu-en expressed concerns over flooding, noting the city has experienced significant flooding this year. Taiwan’s forecasters indicated the storm’s radius could encompass most of the island, with its effects lingering for almost two days.
In response to the impending storm, Taiwan’s financial markets closed on Friday, while only the Taiwan-controlled Kinmen islands adjacent to the Chinese coast planned to operate schools and offices as usual. The Ministry of Transport reported the cancellation of all 262 domestic flights and 717 international flights scheduled for Friday; however, the north-south high-speed rail service continued to operate.
In the capital city of Taipei, squally showers were reported, but public transport services, including the subway, were still available, albeit with reduced operations. Taiwan has a robust system in place to manage typhoons, which usually results in a lower number of casualties. Though typhoons are most common in the summer, they can occur in autumn as well.
After impacting Taiwan, Typhoon Champi is forecast to make landfall on Japan’s westernmost inhabited island, Yonaguni, in Okinawa Prefecture.
