Super Typhoon Champi Bears Down With 227 km/h Winds; Alerts in Taiwan and Japan, Hundreds of Flights Cancelled
The threat of a powerful cyclone is growing in the Pacific region. Super Typhoon Champi is bearing down with storm winds of more than 227 kilometres per hour. Taiwan and Japan are on alert to face the storm's possible impact.
The centre of Super Typhoon Champi is swirling over the Philippine Sea. A land warning has already been issued in Taiwan and more than two hundred flights have been cancelled.
According to Taiwan's Central Weather Administration, Champi, which at one stage became a very severe cyclone, is one of the strongest storms in the Pacific region this year. Although its intensity eased somewhat on Thursday, wind gusts near its centre still exceed 227 kilometres per hour.
The weather authority said the storm is currently located about 520 kilometres southeast of Taiwan's southern tip. According to the forecast, after passing northeast of Taiwan it may turn north towards China's coast. Its later destination could be southern Japan.
According to the authorities, the storm's span has grown to about 320 kilometres. As a result, most areas of Taiwan may experience stormy winds and heavy rainfall under its influence. Meteorologists believe the storm's impact may last about two days.
Warning messages have been sent by mobile phone to coastal cities, warning of waves more than six metres high. About one metre of rainfall has also been forecast in the hills around Taipei and the mountainous north, raising the risk of landslides and flash floods.
Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te has urged people to prepare in advance. He advised residents to avoid travelling to hilly and coastal areas. In a message on social media, he said a little extra preparation means a little less risk.
Transport has already been disrupted by the storm. Taiwan's transport ministry said 125 flights were cancelled on Thursday, most of them on domestic routes. Rail services in the country are still normal, however. According to the interior ministry, there has been no news yet of residents being evacuated to safe shelters.
Taiwan's disaster preparedness and warning system is quite advanced. But although such storms are more common in summer, powerful cyclones can also strike in autumn, bringing strong winds, heavy rainfall and high waves on the coast.
The storm may also affect Japan. According to the forecast, Champi may pass over Yonaguni, the westernmost inhabited island in the Okinawa region. Japan's major airlines have already cancelled more than a hundred flights from Thursday to Sunday, raising fears that the travel of more than 11,000 passengers will be disrupted. Most of the cancelled flights were on domestic routes.
The cyclone has also forced changes to Keen Sword, the joint military exercise of Japan and the United States. In the exercise, under way around Japanese islands near Taiwan, Japan's defence capability is being tested through combined land, sea and air operations, including missile defence drills and amphibious landings.
About 56,000 troops from Japan and the United States are taking part in the exercise, which began on Monday, alongside the militaries of several other countries including the Philippines and Australia. Held every two years, the exercise aims to improve military coordination and joint operational capability among participating countries. The US military said training activities are being adjusted daily, taking the situation into account, to ensure everyone's safety.
How complicated the situation becomes in Taiwan and Japan will depend on the cyclone's path and intensity. Both countries' authorities are therefore maintaining their alerts to avoid possible damage.
