Taipei shut down schools and offices and grounded hundreds of flights as Typhoon Champi brushed by the island, packing strong winds and torrential rains.
Champi peaked at 298kph maximum sustained winds earlier this week but has weakened to 155kph winds as it approached Taiwan from the southwest.
Its centre is forecast to remain offshore as it sweeps by the island’s northeastern tip before turning north toward Japan’s southwestern islands.
Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration urged residents in coastal areas to avoid outdoor activities and driving and be cautious of falling objects.
One person was killed on Thursday after being swept by waves in Liuqiu, a small island off the southeastern coast of Taiwan’s main island, according to the fire department. Ninety-four others were injured in the storm.
Almost 1,300 people have been evacuated from vulnerable, mountainous areas, the government said.
All of Taiwan’s 262 domestic flights were cancelled along with 669 international flights yesterday, according to the transport ministry. High-speed rail services on the western coast were operating normally.
In southwestern Japan, the typhoon has injured one person, grounded flights and knocked out power.
On Miyako island, a woman in her 70s suffered a broken leg in the blowing wind, according to the Okinawa prefecture government.
On Ishigaki island, nearly 2,000 homes were without electricity.
Dozens of flights in and out of the southwestern islands, including Miyako, Ishigaki and Okinawa, have been cancelled.
In the Philippines, the coast guard prohibited ships and ferries from venturing into the increasingly choppy waters off several northern towns and cities yesterday.
The main domestic airport in Batanes provincial capital of Basco was shut down yesterday. — AP
