Taipei, Taiwan— Typhoon Champi struck Taiwan and the Okinawa coastlines on October 31, 2026, injuring 41 residents and knocking out power as winds tore through towns.
The storm made landfall on Taiwan’s eastern shore near Hualien just before noon. Central Weather Administration said gusts reached 155 kilometers per hour. Rain fell at 80 millimeters per hour in some mountain zones. Streets in Hualien flooded knee-deep within an hour.
Emergency Operation Center said 41 injuries were confirmed by 6 p.m. Most were from flying debris and falls. No deaths were reported in Taiwan. In Okinawa, minor injuries were included in the regional tally as the outer bands hit. Officials there reported broken windows and toppled scooters.
Flights were grounded. Taoyuan and Kaohsiung airports canceled more than 120 domestic and international flights. Ferry services to Green Island and Orchid Island were suspended. High-speed rail ran at reduced speed. Commuters were stuck for hours.
In Taipei, wind ripped scaffolding off a construction site in Xinyi. A crane arm swayed. Police cordoned off the block. In the south, Pingtung County reported agricultural damage. Banana fields were flattened. Fish farms overflowed. One farmer said his entire pond washed into the next village.
Power cuts hit more than 50,000 households, according to Taipower. Crews could not work in high winds. They waited for gusts to drop. Schools and offices were closed in nine counties. The military was put on standby with trucks and rubber boats.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency said Champi would brush Okinawa tonight before moving northeast. Waves of six meters were forecast around Miyako. Airlines in Naha issued waivers. Okinawa Electric said it was preparing for outages.
Taiwan’s weather agency warned of landslides overnight. Soil in the central mountains is soaked. Two highways were preemptively closed. Village heads in Yilan were told to evacuate low-lying areas. Shelters reported more than 2,000 people inside by evening.
The storm was expected to weaken after crossing Taiwan but remain dangerous at sea. Fishing boats were told to stay in port until further notice.
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