Flights axed, schools closed as Taiwan braces for Champi impact

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan declared a near-total shutdown for Friday (Oct. 23) as Typhoon Champi (薔琵) bears down on the island. Twenty of 22 counties and cities suspended work and classes for the full day, and all domestic flights were cancelled.

Only Kinmen County, an offshore island group near China's Fujian coast, and most of Taitung County on Taiwan's southeast will operate normally Friday as both areas lie outside the typhoon's primary impact zone. The storm, now downgraded to a moderate typhoon, is expected to pass closest to Taiwan around 2 a.m. Saturday.

The Central Weather Administration (CWA, 中央氣象署), Taiwan's national weather agency, has not ruled out the possibility that Champi could make landfall. The storm weakened from a severe to moderate typhoon Thursday evening.

"The current forecast track does not show landfall, but it is very close to Taiwan's land," CWA forecaster Lin Ping-yu (林秉煜) said at an afternoon briefing Thursday. "We have not completely ruled out the possibility that it could make landfall."

As of 5 p.m. Thursday, Champi's center was located about 450 kilometers (around 280 miles) east of Taiwan's southernmost point, Eluanbi (鵝鑾鼻), moving northwest at 18 km/h (around 11 mph). The storm carried sustained winds of 48 meters per second (around 173 km/h or 107 mph), classifying it as a moderate typhoon with a seven-level wind radius of 320 kilometers (around 200 miles).

The suspensions cover 18 counties and cities on Taiwan proper, including Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan and all major metropolitan areas. Penghu and Lienchiang (Matsu), Taiwan's offshore island counties in the Taiwan Strait, also declared full-day closures. Taitung County declared a partial suspension, closing only Lanyu (蘭嶼) and Green Island (綠島), two small islands off Taiwan's southeast coast that lie directly in the typhoon's path.

All domestic flights were cancelled for Friday, and 40 international flights (primarily routes to and from Okinawa, Japan) were also suspended, according to the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA, 民用航空局), Taiwan's aviation regulator. As of Thursday evening, 126 domestic flights had already been cancelled.

China Airlines (華航) said flights from Taipei Songshan, Taoyuan and Kaohsiung airports would be cancelled Friday afternoon, with Taichung flights cancelled all day. Starlux Airlines (星宇航空) cancelled all Asia routes Friday but maintained its Europe and U.S. flights. EVA Air (長榮航空) cancelled all long-haul flights after noon Friday, with some Taoyuan and Songshan routes cancelled through Saturday noon.

To help stranded island passengers, UNI Air (立榮航空) and Mandarin Airlines (華信航空) added two relief flights each Thursday morning on Kaohsiung-Penghu and Taipei-Penghu routes. CAA Director Ho Shu-ping (何淑萍) ordered airlines to prepare post-typhoon capacity, including possible military aircraft assistance if needed.

The CWA warned that peak impacts would occur from Friday through Saturday morning, with conditions expected to ease Saturday afternoon. Lin said weak steering currents could cause the storm to slow, stall or even loop in place as it approaches Taiwan's northeast coast.

"Do not let your guard down during this period," Lin said, his voice firm. "You must face this typhoon with a cautious attitude and take typhoon preparedness measures."

Coastal areas from Keelung's north coast to the Hengchun Peninsula face waves exceeding 6 meters (around 20 feet). A giant wave alert is in effect for New Taipei's Gongliao District (貢寮區), eastern Taiwan and the Hengchun Peninsula. Wind gusts of force 9 to 11 were already observed Thursday.

Lin warned that Yilan, the north coast, central coastal areas, Lanyu and Green Island could see force 12 gusts on Friday. Those winds — around 118 to 133 km/h (73 to 83 mph) — would result from the storm's approach and terrain effects.

Rainfall will intensify from Thursday evening through Saturday morning. The CWA issued a heavy rain advisory for Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Keelung and Yilan. Mountain areas in northern Taiwan and Yilan could see torrential rain or higher.

Passengers affected by flight cancellations or delays of two hours or more can rebook within 14 days or receive refunds without fees, airlines said. The CWA's next typhoon warning bulletin is scheduled for 11:30 p.m. Thursday. ◼