The key facts

  • One person died in Pingtung County, 94 were injured, including two foreign nationals
  • 977 flights canceled (262 domestic, 715 international) and 96 ferry sailings on 10 routes suspended
  • About 1,300 people evacuated, mostly in Hualien County; schools and offices closed across the island, except in Taitung County

Casualties and injuries

According to the Central Emergency Operation Center (CEOC), as Typhoon Champi approached Taiwan on Friday, at least one person was killed and dozens were injured. The death was recorded in the township of Liuqiu in the southern county of Pingtung. Severe storms and heavy rains caused road traffic and other accidents, leaving 94 people injured, including two foreign nationals, the Anadolu agency reported, citing the CEOC.

Closure of institutions and evacuation

The authorities of the island, home to about 24 million people, ordered schools and offices closed across Taiwan, except in Taitung County, as well as on the outlying islands of Penghu and Matsu, Focus Taiwan reports. The typhoon forced the evacuation of nearly 1,300 people to safe locations, mostly in Hualien County on the island's east coast.

Transport disruption

According to the Civil Aviation Administration, since Thursday evening, due to Typhoon Champi, 977 flights have been canceled, including 262 domestic and 715 international and cross-strait flights. Ferry services on 10 routes, totaling 96 sailings, have also been suspended. The scale of the transport disruption shows that the disaster affected not only the island's residents but also passengers on international routes; however, the sources do not say when traffic will be fully restored.