Nasa’s Terra satellite shows Typhoon Noul in the Pacific Ocean, approaching Taiwan and Japan’s main islands on its northward journey (Reuters image)
Taiwan issued a land warning for powerful Typhoon Champi on Thursday and cancelled 125 flights as the storm approached the island’s northeastern coast, bringing the threat of destructive winds, torrential rain and waves exceeding six metres, Reuters reported.
Champi, which was previously classified as a super typhoon, weakened slightly but continued to pack gusts of more than 227 kmph near its centre, according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration. The storm was about 520 km southeast of Taiwan’s southern tip and was expected to pass close to the northeastern coast late on Friday before moving north towards the Chinese coast. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te urged residents to prepare for the storm and avoid mountainous and coastal areas.
Taiwan’s transport ministry said 125 flights had been cancelled on Thursday, mostly domestic services, while the rail network remained unaffected. The interior ministry said no evacuations had been reported.
“A little more preparation means less risk,” he wrote on his Facebook page. Mobile phone alerts warning of waves exceeding six metres were issued to coastal towns, while rainfall approaching one metre was forecast in northern mountainous areas, including hills near the capital Taipei. Weather experts warned that the storm’s impact could last nearly two days.
Japan Airlines, ANA and Skymark cancelled more than 100 flights between Thursday and Sunday, mostly domestic services, disrupting travel for more than 11,000 passengers. Champi is also forecast to pass over Yonaguni, Japan’s westernmost inhabited island in Okinawa Prefecture. You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.