Typhoon Champi caused massive travel disruptions and closures across Taiwan and Japan. The powerful storm triggered evacuations and resulted in one death.
Typhoon Champi moved toward the north-east coast of Taiwan on Friday. The massive storm caused hundreds of flight cancellations across East Asia. Officials shut down schools and offices throughout the region to ensure public safety.
Also, the severe weather forced 1,000 people to leave their homes. Officials report that the storm injured 171 individuals. Tragically, one person died after waves swept them away near the coast.
Next, the storm brought intense winds and heavy rain. Forecasters expect up to 35 inches of rain by Saturday evening. Residents must stay away from mountains and coastal areas during this time.
However, the storm's exact path remains uncertain. Experts say the center might miss the island entirely. They warn that the typhoon could still stall or change direction unexpectedly.
Meanwhile, the government suspended operations at the national stock exchange on Friday. Nearly every city and county observed a public holiday due to the dangerous conditions. Only Kinmen county continued with normal daily activities.
After that, the storm impacted nearby regions as well. Japan reported power outages for over 8,000 households in Okinawa. Japanese airlines canceled more than 160 flights because of the high winds.
Then, the typhoon brought heavy rain to the Batanes islands in the Philippines. Photos show large waves hitting villages and flooding local roads. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely in these areas.
Still, meteorologists note that Champi weakened since reaching its peak. It previously reached speeds matching a Category 5 hurricane earlier this week. It currently carries wind gusts of nearly 120 miles per hour.
Finally, experts link this active weather season to a strong El Niño event. This phenomenon heats the Pacific Ocean and fuels intense storms. Japan has now faced 30 typhoons so far this year.