Typhoon Champi weakens to 155 km/h after passing Taiwan

Typhoon Champi moved past the northeastern tip of Taiwan on Friday, weakening to sustained winds of 155 kilometres per hour. The system had previously reached maximum sustained winds of 298 kilometres per hour earlier in the week. Forecasts indicate the storm will turn north toward the southwestern islands of Japan.

Taiwan's Transport Ministry cancelled all 262 domestic and 669 international flights as the typhoon approached from the southeast. High-speed rail services along the western coast continued to operate normally. In Taipei, the subway remained open and the city experienced only light showers and gusty winds despite the storm's large radius.

One person died on Thursday in Liuqiu, a small island off the southeastern coast, after being swept away by waves, according to the fire department. Ninety-four other individuals were injured during the storm. The government reported that more than 2,600 people were evacuated from vulnerable mountainous areas.

The Central Weather Administration advised residents in coastal regions to avoid outdoor activities and driving. The agency warned citizens to watch for falling objects. Schools and offices across the island remained closed on Friday as a precaution.

The typhoon also impacted southwestern Japan, where one person was injured and power was cut to nearly 2,000 homes in Ishigaki. A woman in her 70s broke her leg in strong winds on Miyako island. Dozens of flights to and from Miyako, Ishigaki, and Okinawa were cancelled.

In the northern Philippines, the coast guard prohibited ships and ferries from sailing in rough waters off several northern towns. The main domestic airport in Basco, the capital of Batanes province, was closed and two local flights were cancelled. Aviation officials boarded up windows at the airport as a precaution.

In Cagayan province, nearly 200 people moved to safer locations, with almost 100 sheltering in government-run facilities. Provincial officials suspended classes in the island town of Calayan. Experts expect the storm's greatest impact on Taiwan to last through Saturday, with the system reaching Japan's southern mainland on Monday.