Typhoon Champi killed one person in Taiwan and injured 171, the government said on Friday, as the storm — once a super typhoon and among the strongest in the Pacific this year — swept past the island's northeast while weakening, Reuters reported. The toll rose through the day: an earlier Reuters report put the count at one killed and 94 injured, with about 1,300 people evacuated, before the updated government figures raised the injured to 171 and evacuations to 2,639 people from mountainous areas.

Source: Reuters via DevDiscourse

The person who died was swept away by waves whipped up by the typhoon, authorities said, according to an AFP report. Champi was packing maximum sustained winds of 176 kph (109 mph), the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre said, with gusts of around 191 kph (119 mph) near its centre, Taiwan's Central Weather Administration (CWA) said.

Source: AFP via Malay Mail (Bangsar); Reuters via DevDiscourse

1person killed in Taiwan, swept away by waves, authorities said via AFP
171people injured, updated Taiwan government figure reported by Reuters (earlier count: 94)
2,639people evacuated from mountainous areas, the government said
77,000+homes that lost power; Taipower said electricity had been restored to most, Reuters reported
979flights cancelled — all 262 domestic and 717 international, authorities said

Almost all of Taiwan shut down on Friday: schools, offices and financial markets were closed, and coastal towns received mobile phone alerts warning of gusts above 150 kph and urging residents to seek immediate shelter. Nearly a metre (3 feet) of rain was forecast for northern mountain areas, including around Taipei, and in the northeastern county of Yilan authorities distributed sandbags and put amphibious vehicles and inflatable rescue boats on standby, Reuters reported.

Source: Reuters via DevDiscourse

CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng told Reuters that direct landfall could not be ruled out if the storm "stalls, loops, or wobbles from side to side" on its approach, adding: "The storm's wind radius is quite large, among the bigger ones in recent years. If the storm slows down, the strong winds will affect Taiwan for longer." The forecast track shows Champi passing just off northeastern Taiwan, turning north toward the Chinese coast and eventually moving into southern Japan.

Source: Reuters via DevDiscourse

TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, said its operations remained normal with no significant impact, Reuters reported. Thousands of military personnel were on standby to assist with rescue efforts, and heavy rain, strong winds and giant waves were forecast to continue into Saturday, AFP reported.

Source: Reuters via DevDiscourse; AFP via Malay Mail

On Thursday, Awaaz Punjab reported Taiwan's shutdown ahead of Champi's arrival, when cancellations were still climbing. This update follows the storm's closest pass, the first confirmed death and the rising injury toll. Read the earlier report: Taiwan shuts down ahead of Typhoon Champi

What is solid

  • One person was killed and 171 injured in Taiwan, and 2,639 people were evacuated from mountainous areas, the government said via Reuters
  • All 262 domestic and 717 international flights were cancelled; more than 77,000 homes lost power, with most supply restored, Taipower said via Reuters
  • Gusts reached about 191 kph near the centre, the CWA said; the dead person was swept away by waves, authorities said via AFP

What is only claimed

  • Casualty and evacuation figures rose during Friday as official counts were updated — Reuters' earlier report said 94 injured and about 1,300 evacuated; the figures here are the later government updates and may change again
  • Whether Champi makes direct landfall was still uncertain on Friday; the CWA said landfall could not be ruled out if the storm stalls or wobbles