Flight Disruptions and Widespread Closures as Typhoon Champi Bears Down on Taiwan

Rainfall is anticipated to reach its peak on Saturday morning and persist throughout the day, according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration.

Taiwanese authorities have advised residents to avoid coastal and mountainous areas for safety reasons.

On Friday, work and educational activities were suspended across nearly all 22 counties and cities in Taiwan, colloquially termed a “typhoon holiday” due to Typhoon Champi’s proximity.

The $5 trillion (£3.7 trillion) Taiwan Stock Exchange was also closed for trading on Friday in response to the severe weather conditions.

Kinmen County, an archipelago located west of Taiwan’s main island, maintained normal operations with work and classes proceeding as scheduled.

In Japan, approximately 8,400 households in the southern Okinawa prefecture experienced power outages, as reported by the local utility company.

More than 160 flights were canceled by four Japanese airlines due to the typhoon’s impact.

Typhoon Champi also brought heavy rainfall and strong winds to Batanes, a Philippine island chain situated south of Taiwan.

Local government social media posts revealed waves crashing against seaside villages and roads rendered impassable. No immediate casualties have been reported.

Typhoon Champi reached its peak intensity earlier in the week, achieving maximum sustained winds of 185 mph (298 km/h) over the Philippine Sea, equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane.

The storm initially categorized as a “super typhoon” later weakened as it continued moving through the region on Wednesday.

This typhoon season is shaping up to be one of the most active in recent years. Champi marks Japan’s 30th typhoon of the year, the first such occurrence since 2013.

Scientists attribute the increased frequency of typhoons to an unusually strong El Niño effect, which influences Pacific Ocean weather patterns and can trigger extreme events such as droughts and typhoons.

Source link