Typhoon Champi bears down on Taiwan: island largely shut, one person swept to death by waves, more than 1,100 evacuated

As powerful Typhoon Champi bore down on Taiwan, most shops and educational institutions across the island were kept closed on Friday (23 October). One person died after being swept away by the rough waves whipped up by the typhoon, and several others were injured.

The storm is expected to cross Taiwan's north-east before moving on towards China and Japan. Hundreds of flights across the region have been cancelled because of it, and more than 1,100 people have been evacuated from their homes in at-risk areas.

According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Champi briefly intensified into a super typhoon while crossing the sea, before weakening somewhat. Its maximum sustained winds currently stand at 176 kilometres per hour.

Heavy rain and strong winds are feared across Taiwan on Friday and Saturday (24 October). Thousands of military personnel have been kept ready to assist with rescue and relief work as soon as the storm passes.

Work and classes are suspended in almost all parts of the island. Streets in northern and north-eastern Taiwan have fallen nearly deserted, with residents staying indoors to remain safe during the storm.

Champi is among the latest storms of this Pacific season. Storm activity in the Pacific has increased this season under the influence of El Niño, and observers see that larger climate pattern behind powerful cyclones such as Champi as well.

The United Nations said on Wednesday that the El Niño conditions affecting the whole world are reaching an unusual level, urging countries to prepare urgently for possible disasters.

Forecasts suggest El Niño's impact could peak this December. However, its effects are feared to continue through 2027 and beyond — meaning storm-prone regions such as Taiwan may have to stay on alert for a long time.

El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon in which sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific rise abnormally above normal. During such periods the ocean water temporarily warms, which can trigger extreme weather such as droughts and floods in different parts of the world.

For Taiwan, the biggest question now is the storm's track — how much strength Champi retains while crossing the north-east, and where it dumps the heaviest rain. Heavy rainfall could also raise the risk of landslides and flash floods, although no such incidents had been reported by the time this report was written.

Attention is also on China and Japan, since the storm is expected to head that way after crossing Taiwan. The cancellation of hundreds of flights already shows that air travel schedules across the region face major disruption.

All told, Champi is no longer just a storm for Taiwan but a disaster situation that has halted normal life across the island: closed shops and schools, more than a thousand people evacuated, thousands of soldiers on standby — and everyone waiting to see how quickly it passes without causing greater damage.