Typhoon Champi: 931 flights cancelled as winds hit Taiwan

931 flights were cancelled on Friday across Taiwan's air network as Typhoon Champi brushed the island's northeastern tip. The Transport Ministry confirmed the suspension of all 262 domestic routes and 669 international services. High-speed rail along the western coast maintained normal operations.

The system reached peak sustained winds of 298 kilometres per hour earlier in the week. By Friday, that speed had dropped to 155 kilometres per hour. The storm's centre remained offshore as it tracked north toward Japan's southwestern islands. Its radius spans approximately 320 kilometres, a width that covers most of Taiwan.

Authorities closed schools and offices to mitigate risk. The Central Weather Administration advised coastal residents to avoid driving and stay clear of outdoor activities. More than 2,600 people were evacuated from vulnerable mountainous areas. 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.

Impact was not uniform across the island. Taipei's subway remained open and residents experienced only light showers and gusts. Experts anticipate the heaviest weather in Taiwan will persist through Saturday. The system is forecast to reach Japan's southern mainland by Monday.

In southwestern Japan, the typhoon has already caused one injury and cut power to nearly 2,000 homes on Ishigaki island. A woman in her 70s broke her leg in strong winds on Miyako island. Dozens of flights to and from Miyako, Ishigaki, and Okinawa were cancelled. The Okinawa prefecture government confirmed the injuries and outages.

The northern Philippines also faced disruptions. Coast guard officials barred ships and ferries from sailing in rough waters off several northern towns. The main domestic airport in Basco, the capital of Batanes province, closed and cancelled two local flights. Aviation staff boarded up windows as a precaution. In Cagayan province, nearly 200 people moved to safer ground, with almost 100 taking shelter in government-run facilities. Classes were suspended in the island town of Calayan.

Champi passed over several Pacific islands earlier this month, including Guam, where a federal disaster area was declared. The storm's path has shifted from the central Pacific to the western Pacific, affecting multiple jurisdictions in succession.