Storm halts 931 flights across Asia

Commuters in Taipei found their subway trains running on schedule and their office buildings open, a stark contrast to the chaos unfolding elsewhere in the region. The discrepancy stems from Typhoon Champi’s position. The storm’s center remains offshore as it moves past the island's northeastern tip, sparing the capital from the system's worst effects. In Taipei, residents experienced only light showers and gusty winds while transport services continued to operate.

The full weight of the storm hit the rest of Taiwan on Friday. The government grounded 931 flights, comprising all 262 domestic services and 669 international departures. Schools and offices closed across the island. The Central Weather Administration warned coastal residents to avoid outdoor activities and driving, citing the risk of falling debris. High-speed rail on the western coast continued to run, providing a limited escape route for those able to travel by land.

The human cost of the weather event is mounting. One person died on Thursday after waves swept them away in Liuqiu, a small island off the southeastern coast. Ninety-four others sustained injuries. More than 2,600 people evacuated from vulnerable mountainous areas. The storm reached maximum sustained winds of 298 kilometres per hour earlier in the week before weakening to 155 kilometres per hour as it approached Taiwan.

The storm system, with a radius of approximately 320 kilometres, covers most of Taiwan's landmass. Experts expect the greatest impact on the island to last through Saturday. The typhoon is forecast to turn north toward Japan's southwestern islands. The storm already injured one person in southwestern Japan, where a woman in her 70s broke a leg on Miyako island. Nearly 2,000 homes in Ishigaki lost power, and dozens of flights were cancelled across the Okinawa prefecture.

The northern Philippines faced its own disruptions on Friday. The coast guard barred ships and ferries from sailing in rough waters off several northern towns. The main domestic airport in Basco, the capital of Batanes province, closed and cancelled two local flights. Aviation officials boarded up windows at the facility as a precaution. In Cagayan province, nearly 200 people moved to safer ground, with almost 100 taking shelter in government-run emergency facilities. Classes suspended in the island town of Calayan.

Champi formed earlier this month and passed over several Pacific islands, including Guam. Guam declared a federal disaster area after the storm's initial passage. The system has since tracked westward, bringing high winds and heavy rain to East Asia. The current trajectory suggests a path toward Japan's southern mainland by Monday.