A weakening storm brushes Taiwan's northeast
Typhoon Champi passed close to Taiwan on Saturday, weakening as it moved north toward the Chinese coast. Taiwan's Central Weather Administration said the storm's centre was roughly 150km east of the island after skimming its northeast shore in the early hours. Gusts near the centre were still reaching about 126km per hour, the agency added, well down from the super typhoon status Champi held earlier, when it ranked among the strongest Pacific storms of the year.[S1]
The forecast path has Champi bending north toward the Chinese coastline and later crossing into southern Japan. Eight outlets reported on the same passage past Taiwan, several of them describing the storm as having shut the island down.[S1][S2][S3][S4][S5][S6][S7][S8]
One dead and hundreds injured
Taiwan's fire department reported that a man died after being swept away by waves off Liuqiu, a small island off the southwest coast. A further 527 people were hurt as strong winds and heavy rain lashed the island. The casualty figures were carried by several outlets reporting the same event.[S1][S2][S3][S4]
Utility Taipower said electricity had been cut to more than 167,000 households, with service since restored to most of them. Uprooted trees and downed lines formed part of the damage as the storm moved on.[S1]
Closures, cancellations and a prepared island
Authorities ordered a second consecutive day of office and school closures across much of northern and central Taiwan, Taipei included, and some flights remained grounded. Outlets reporting on the storm's approach had earlier described hundreds of flights being cancelled and the island shutting down ahead of its arrival, with one report putting the number of cancelled flights at nearly 1,000.[S1][S6][S7][S8]
Typhoons are a familiar hazard for Taiwan, and the island's precautions generally hold losses down. The storms are most frequent in summer but can also arrive in autumn, as Champi did.[S1]
