Typhoon Champi Hits Taiwan Coast: One Dead, Dozens Hurt as Gales Rip Through Districts

Hualien, Taiwan— Winds tore roofs from coastal homes and rain flooded low-lying roads after Typhoon Champi battered Taiwan's coastal districts, leaving one person dead and dozens injured.

The storm made its closest approach early on October 24, pushing sustained gales above 140 kilometers per hour in exposed areas. Sea spray reached second-story windows in some fishing ports. By mid-morning, the Central Weather Administration had issued land and sea warnings for much of the island's north and east.

Officials said the fatality occurred when a scaffolding collapsed onto a motorcyclist in a coastal industrial zone. Emergency services arrived within minutes but the man was declared dead at the scene. The injured were mostly hit by flying debris or slipped on flooded roads.

More than 15,000 households lost power as utility poles snapped. In Yilan and Keelung, storm drains overflowed and water entered ground-floor shops. Fire crews were dispatched to pump out basements and cut fallen trees that blocked main highways.

"We are seeing localized storm surge and wind damage," a county emergency official said. "People were told to stay indoors, but some went out to secure boats and stalls. That is when most injuries happened." He urged residents to wait until winds drop further.

Fishing vessels were ordered to remain in harbor. Coast guard units reported several small boats that broke moorings and drifted. Two harbors closed after concrete tetrapods shifted under wave pressure, making entry unsafe.

Rail and ferry services were disrupted. Several domestic flights were canceled and highways along the east coast were closed in sections where landslides covered lanes. Schools and offices in three coastal counties suspended operations for the day.

By afternoon, rainfall totals exceeded 300 millimeters in some mountain catchments. Authorities opened emergency shelters for 400 residents whose homes were at risk of flooding. No dam releases were ordered yet, but water levels were being watched.

Typhoon Champi was moving north-northeast away from Taiwan by evening, though strong gusts and heavy rain bands continued to affect the northern coast.