Typhoon Champi has killed at least one person and injured 527 others as powerful winds and torrential rain battered Taiwan, bringing widespread disruption to transport, electricity supplies and daily life. The storm, previously classified as a super typhoon and among the strongest in the Pacific this year, is weakening as it moves north towards the Chinese coast, although authorities continue to warn of dangerous conditions.

Deadly storm sweeps past Taiwan

Champi passed close to Taiwan’s northeastern coast during the early hours of Saturday, 24 October, bringing destructive winds, heavy rainfall and dangerous seas.

According to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration, the storm was approximately 150 kilometres east of the island, with wind gusts reaching around 126 kilometres per hour near its centre.

Emergency authorities confirmed that one man died after being swept away by powerful waves near Liuqiu Island, off southern Taiwan.

A further 527 people were reported injured as strong winds brought down trees, damaged buildings and scattered debris across streets and residential areas.

Hundreds of flights cancelled

The typhoon severely disrupted Taiwan’s transport infrastructure.

Nearly 1,000 flights were cancelled on Friday as airlines suspended domestic and international services.

A further 242 flights were cancelled on Saturday, although the reduced number suggested that some operations were beginning to recover.

Ferry services were also suspended, while public transport and road networks experienced disruption from fallen trees and storm damage.

Large parts of northern and central Taiwan, including the capital Taipei, remained under school and office closures for a second consecutive day.

Power outages affect thousands of households

Electricity supplies were another major casualty of the storm.

Taiwanese utility company Taipower reported that more than 167,000 households had lost electricity at some stage during the typhoon.

Repair crews worked to restore damaged connections, with most affected properties reconnected by Saturday morning.

In Taipei, strong winds uprooted trees and damaged structures, while intermittent heavy showers continued as the storm moved away.

China and Japan monitor approaching storm

Although Champi has weakened considerably from its earlier super typhoon classification, meteorologists continue to monitor its movement.

Forecasts indicate that the storm will turn north towards the Chinese coast before eventually moving in the direction of southern Japan.

Authorities in potentially affected areas are monitoring its progress and preparing for possible disruption.

Taiwan’s storm preparedness limits casualties

Taiwan regularly experiences powerful tropical cyclones and has developed extensive emergency response systems, including early warnings, evacuation procedures and temporary closures of public facilities.

These measures have helped reduce fatalities despite the destructive force of major storms.

However, Champi demonstrates how extreme weather can still disrupt transport, energy infrastructure and economic activity across highly developed economies.

As the storm continues its journey north, attention is shifting towards recovery operations in Taiwan and preparations in neighbouring regions.

NewsHub Finance | Asia / Climate & Environment | 24 October 2026