The key facts

  • Work and classes suspended on Friday in 20 of 22 counties and cities of Taiwan
  • Domestic flights and 40 international flights canceled
  • Champi, downgraded to a moderate typhoon, will pass closest to the island around 2 a.m. Saturday; landfall not ruled out

Near-total shutdown on Friday

Taiwan on Thursday ordered a near-total shutdown for Friday due to the approach of Typhoon Champi. According to local broadcaster TVBS, work and classes are suspended for the entire day in 20 of 22 counties and cities, and airlines have canceled domestic flights as well as 40 international flights.

Exceptions and the storm's track

Kinmen County — a group of islands off the coast of China's Fujian province — and most of Taitung County in southeastern Taiwan will operate as usual on Friday, as they lie outside the typhoon's main zone of impact. Champi, downgraded to a moderate typhoon, is expected to pass closest to Taiwan around 2 a.m. Saturday (18:00 GMT on Friday). Taiwan's Central Weather Administration does not rule out the storm making landfall.

Rain warnings and forecast improvement

Meteorologists warned that the storm's strongest effects will be felt from Friday through Saturday morning, with conditions expected to improve in the second half of Saturday. By Thursday evening, Champi was located about 450 kilometers (280 miles) east of Taiwan's southernmost point, Cape Eluanbi, and was moving northwest at 18 kilometers per hour (11 miles per hour). Warnings for heavy rain have also been issued for a number of areas: rainfall is expected to intensify from Thursday evening through Saturday morning.