Typhoon Champi cancels 931 flights in Taiwan

Taiwan's Transport Ministry cancelled 931 flights on Friday as Typhoon Champi moved past the island. The cancellations included all 262 domestic routes and 669 international flights. High-speed rail services along the western coast continued to operate normally.

The storm has weakened since its peak earlier this week. Maximum sustained winds dropped from 298 kilometres per hour to 155 kilometres per hour. The Central Weather Administration forecasts the storm's centre will remain offshore as it passes the northeastern tip before turning north toward Japan.

One person died on Thursday in Liuqiu, a small island off the southeastern coast. The fire department reported the individual was swept away by waves. Ninety-four others were injured in the storm. The government confirmed that more than 2,600 people were evacuated from vulnerable mountainous areas.

Authorities urged residents in coastal areas to avoid outdoor activities and driving. The Central Weather Administration advised the public to watch for falling objects. Despite the storm's 320-kilometre radius covering most of the island, transport services in Taipei remained open. The capital experienced only light showers and gusty winds.

Typhoon Champi is expected to reach Japan's southern mainland on Monday. In southwestern Japan, the storm has injured one person and cut power to nearly 2,000 homes on Ishigaki island. Dozens of flights to and from Miyako, Ishigaki, and Okinawa were cancelled. A woman in her 70s broke a leg in strong winds on Miyako island.

The storm also affected the northern Philippines on Friday. The coast guard barred ships and ferries from sailing in rough waters. Aviation officials closed the main domestic airport in Basco, the capital of Batanes province, and cancelled two local flights. Provincial officials in Cagayan suspended classes in the island town of Calayan.

Nearly 200 people in Cagayan province moved to safer ground. Almost 100 of those individuals went to government-run emergency shelters. Earlier this month, the typhoon passed over Guam, prompting a federal disaster declaration.