TAIPEI: Most shops and schools were closed across Taiwan on Friday as Typhoon Champi approached the island, forcing hundreds of people to leave their homes ahead of the powerful storm.
The typhoon is expected to pass Taiwan’s northeast as it moves towards China and Japan, prompting the cancellation of hundreds of flights across the region.
At least one person has been killed in Taiwan after being swept away by waves whipped up by the typhoon, authorities said. Dozens of others have been injured.
Champi is the latest storm in a busy Pacific season turbocharged by the El Niño weather phenomenon, which has caused unprecedented warming in the equatorial Pacific.
The storm briefly reached super typhoon status as it crossed the ocean but has weakened as it approaches Taiwan. It now has maximum sustained wind speeds of 167 kilometres (104 miles) per hour, according to the latest update from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.
Heavy rain, strong winds and giant waves are forecast for Friday and Saturday, while thousands of military personnel are on standby to assist with rescue efforts.
More than 1,200 people had been evacuated from their homes ahead of Champi.
“As it approaches Taiwan’s northeastern tip… the typhoon may slow down. If it slows down, its impact will last longer,” Central Weather Administration forecaster Lu Kuo-chen told a briefing.
In Japan, several local events in the southern prefecture of Okinawa have been cancelled.
There has been no change to the ongoing Japan-US joint military exercise, Keen Sword, being held in various parts of Japan. However, a Japanese military spokeswoman said the authorities would be “flexible” in carrying out the drills.
Professional storm chaser James Reynolds posted a video on X from Ishigaki showing a “fierce storm tide” in a channel leading to the island’s harbour as Champi’s strong winds whipped across the water.
“I’m seeing the ocean do things I’ve not seen in 20 years of doing this!!” Reynolds said in the post.
‘Extremely heavy rain’
Champi is expected to dump up to 90 centimetres (35 inches) of rain between Thursday and Saturday, with northeastern Taiwan forecast to be hardest hit, the weather agency said.
“People should be aware that the strong winds and extremely heavy rain will continue into the first half of tomorrow,” Lu said.
Work and classes were cancelled for the day across nearly all of Taiwan, leaving streets quiet as most residents stayed at home. The stock exchange was also closed.
Some businesses installed sandbags or metal barriers at their entrances to prevent flooding.
“I’m worried about flooding. The vegetables could get flooded and rot,” a 73-year-old farmer surnamed Tsai told AFP in New Taipei City.
Convenience store worker Peter Chen said he was concerned about weather conditions on Friday night, when the eye of the typhoon was expected to be closer to Taiwan’s coast.
“We might prepare some sandbags,” the 27-year-old said.
The United Nations said on Wednesday that the El Niño system affecting the planet was heading off the charts and that countries should take urgent action to prepare for the worst.
El Niño is expected to peak in December, but its impact on people is expected to last into 2027 and beyond.
The warming phase of a natural climate cycle, El Niño temporarily raises sea temperatures in the tropical Pacific, triggering changes in weather patterns that can increase the risk of drought and flooding and exacerbate human-caused global warming.