Taiwan came to a near-standstill on Friday, 23 October 2026, as Typhoon Champi brushed its northeast coast. Schools, offices and financial markets closed, all flights were cancelled and about 1,300 people were evacuated from mountain areas, according to Reuters and the Taipei Times.
Impact so far
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Flights cancelled | All 262 domestic and 669 international flights on Friday (931 in total) |
| Casualties | 1 dead, 94 injured (figures rising at time of writing) |
| Evacuations | About 1,300 people from mountain areas |
| Closures | Schools and work cancelled everywhere except Kinmen; financial markets closed; reduced Taipei metro service |
| Rain forecast | 600–900 mm in northern and northeastern mountains |
| Waves | Over 10 metres through Saturday afternoon |
Sources: Reuters (via Korea Times) and Taipei Times.
The person who died was a free diver in his 20s, swept away by a rip current off Siaoliouciou island in Pingtung County, the Taipei Times reported. In Hualien, residents downstream of the Wanli Creek landslide dam, which holds about 5 million tonnes of water, were asked to evacuate.
The storm
On Thursday evening Champi had sustained winds of 173 km/h, gusts of 198 km/h and a radius of 320 km. It has weakened from the Category 5 super typhoon of 20 October, the strongest storm of 2026. Forecasters say a direct landfall is still possible if the storm "stalls, loops, or wobbles from side to side," Central Weather Administration forecaster Liu Pei-teng told Reuters. For background, see our earlier report on Super Typhoon Champi.
In Yilan County, sandbags and amphibious vehicles are ready. "The military will come in to help," said Lee Ming-chen, head of Suao township.
Holiday weekend warning
Premier Cho Jung-tai urged people to stay away from creeks, beaches and mountains during the three-day Retrocession Day holiday weekend.
What happens next
Champi is expected to move away from Taiwan by Saturday evening and turn north towards China's east coast and southern Japan, with Yonaguni in Okinawa first in line. Travellers in the region should check with airlines before heading to airports.
