Taiwan shuts down as Typhoon Champi forces nearly 1,000 flight cancellations.
Weakening winds do not remove the danger from a large storm with heavy-rain and flooding risks.
Taiwan’s response to Typhoon Champi included 979 flight cancellations and widespread school and office closures on October 23. Reuters also reported that high-speed rail continued operating—a reminder that a broad shutdown did not mean every transport service had stopped.
An island prepares for a large storm
Most of Taiwan shut schools and offices on Friday as Typhoon Champi approached, with financial markets also closed and almost 1,000 flights cancelled. Reuters reported that authorities were preparing for strong winds, torrential rain and possible flooding even as the storm weakened.
Taiwan’s transport ministry said all 262 domestic flights were cancelled, along with 717 international services. Those figures total 979. They describe the October 23 Reuters account; passengers should check their own airline for subsequent changes.
The report recorded one death and 94 injuries in Taiwan, while nearly 1,300 people had been evacuated from mountainous areas. Those figures were provisional in the October 23 account and may change as authorities issue further reports.
Why weaker does not mean harmless
Champi had previously reached super-typhoon strength. Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration said it still carried powerful gusts near its center, while its broad wind field could affect a large part of the island. Reuters reported warnings of very heavy rain in northern mountain areas.
The forecast track in the report took the storm near northeastern Taiwan, with movement toward the Chinese coast and eventually southern Japan. Forecasters had not ruled out direct landfall if the system stalled or shifted. A forecast possibility is not confirmation that landfall has already occurred.
The size of the storm matters alongside its maximum winds. A slower passage can prolong the period of exposure, including rainfall and coastal conditions, even when peak intensity is below an earlier maximum.
Closures are not all the same
Authorities in Yilan prepared sandbags and rescue equipment, while boat owners in Keelung secured their vessels. The report said the high-speed railway continued operating and Taipei’s subway was running with reduced service. It would therefore be inaccurate to say every form of transport had stopped.
The Taiwan-controlled Kinmen islands were an exception to the wider school and office closures described in the report. Operational details vary by location and can change quickly.
This story explains the shutdown reported on October 23; it is not a live forecast or flight-status service. Residents and travelers should use the latest Central Weather Administration warnings, local government notices and airline updates for decisions.
