Typhoon Champi knocks out power to thousands in Taiwan

Typhoon Champi swept across Taiwan on Saturday, killing one person and injuring more than 500 others as it battered the island with fierce winds and torrential rain. Emergency crews worked throughout the day to restore electricity to tens of thousands of homes after the storm toppled trees and severed power lines. Authorities had evacuated more than 5,000 individuals from their residences prior to the storm's arrival. The typhoon, which was previously classified as a super typhoon, moved northward toward the coasts of China and Japan, leaving behind widespread disruption and damage. The death toll stood at one following the incident, according to Taiwan's fire department. A man was swept away by waves originating from the island of Liuqiu. At least 527 additional people sustained injuries during the period of heavy wind and intense precipitation. Power outages affected a significant portion of the population, with figures varying slightly across updates. One report indicated that approximately 56,000 households remained without power as the storm continued to buffeting the island. Other data suggested that at one point, 280,000 households were disconnected, although 80 percent of these had regained service by Saturday morning. Another estimate placed the number of affected homes at over 167,000, noting that most had subsequently been reconnected. Earlier in the week, more than 77,000 homes had lost power before restoration efforts began. Rainfall totals varied significantly by location. Nearly 24 centimeters of rain were recorded in the western county of Miaoli on Saturday. In the northeastern county of Yilan, where the storm made a loop, cumulative rainfall reached 65 centimeters since Thursday. Coastal towns issued mobile phone alerts warning residents of gusts exceeding 150 kilometers per hour and urged them to seek immediate shelter. Forecasts had predicted nearly one meter of rain for northern mountain areas, including the vicinity of Taipei. The storm's trajectory saw it glance off Taiwan's northeast coast in the early hours of Saturday before turning north. It was located roughly 150 to 170 kilometers east of the island, depending on the specific time of observation. The Central Weather Administration noted that while the period of most severe impact had passed, winds and waves in surrounding waters remained strong. The storm's intensity weakened overnight, with maximum sustained wind speeds dropping to 120 kilometers per hour by Saturday, down from earlier peaks of nearly 300 kilometers per hour when it held super typhoon status. Gusts near the center were measured at approximately 78 to 126 kilometers per hour, though some earlier reports cited higher figures of 191 kilometers per hour. Disruption extended to transportation and daily life. Most shops in northern and central Taiwan closed for a second consecutive day. Schools and offices in several districts, including Taipei, remained shut. Flight cancellations numbered in the dozens in the region, with 259 cancellations reported in Taiwan, an improvement from the nearly 1,000 cancellations recorded on Friday. Train services were suspended in parts of China, specifically in Jiangsu, Shanghai, and Zhejiang, where authorities warned of strong winds and heavy rain. Tens of thousands of people were evacuated in Shanghai alone. Dozens of flights were also canceled in Japan's southernmost prefecture of Okinawa, where two people were injured. Tourists stranded on Ishigaki Island waited for flights to resume, expressing surprise at the storm's strength. China dispatched a team to the eastern province of Zhejiang as the typhoon approached. Officials stated they had prepared 400 rescue workers and 600 pieces of equipment, while more than 41,000 firefighters remained on emergency duty. The state-controlled broadcaster CCTV warned that areas in Jiangsu, Shanghai, and Zhejiang would experience heavy to torrential rainfall. Residents described mixed experiences of the storm. Martha Wang, a 55-year-old secretary in New Taipei City, expressed fear of being blown away while riding her scooter across a bridge, describing the vehicle as shaking violently. Conversely, William Yu, a 55-year-old librarian, remarked that the conditions were not stronger than typical typhoons, noting he had visited a convenience store the previous evening without issue. In Keelung, construction worker Liu Yu-en, 18, voiced concerns primarily about flooding, citing frequent inundation in the city that year. Boat owners in the port city hurried to secure their vessels. The storm emerged within a busy Pacific season influenced by the El Niño weather phenomenon, which has driven unprecedented warming in the equatorial Pacific. The United Nations warned on Wednesday that the El Niño system was heading off historical records and urged countries to prepare for severe impacts. El Niño is expected to peak in December, with human consequences potentially lasting into 2027. This natural climate cycle temporarily raises sea temperatures in the tropical Pacific, increasing risks of drought and flooding while exacerbating global warming trends. Local officials emphasized ongoing precautions despite the storm's movement away from the main island. Wuu Woan-hwa of the Central Weather Administration reminded the public that maritime conditions remained hazardous. In Yilan, authorities distributed sandbags and kept amphibious vehicles and inflatable rescue boats on standby. Lee Ming-chen, head of the port town of Suao, stated that the military would assist in evacuations or disaster relief if necessary. The storm's large wind radius, estimated at around 320 kilometers, covered much of Taiwan, contributing to the prolonged nature of the weather impact. Financial markets in Taiwan had closed earlier in the week, with only the Kinmen islands remaining open.