Typhoon Champi kills one and injures 171 in Taiwan
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Sowetan
Typhoon Champi has killed one person and injured 171 in Taiwan, where 2,639 people were evacuated and more than 77,000 households lost power. Authorities cancelled nearly 1,000 flights and feared strong winds and torrential rain, reports Sowetan.
Typhoon Champi has killed one person and injured 171 in Taiwan, where 2,639 people were evacuated from mountainous areas, according to the Taiwanese government. The storm, which was approaching the island on Friday, was expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain despite weakening.
Gusts were reaching about 191 km/h near the centre of the typhoon, according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration. The system was about 220 kilometres east of the island. More than 77,000 households were left without electricity, according to state-owned Taipower, which had already restored power to most of them.
Forecasters estimated that Champi could skirt north-eastern Taiwan before heading towards the Chinese coast and then southern Japan. A direct hit on the island remained possible, however, if the storm slowed down or changed course, said Liu Pei-teng, a forecaster at the meteorological administration. Its radius, of about 320 kilometres, could cover most of Taiwan and prolong its effects for nearly two days.
Authorities closed most schools and offices, as well as financial markets, on Friday. In Yilan County, sandbags and rescue equipment were prepared, while rainfall of nearly one metre was expected in mountainous areas in the north, particularly around Taipei. The port city of Suao said the military could assist with evacuations using amphibious vehicles.
