Typhoon Champi Brushes Past Taiwan: One Dead, More Than 500 Hurt as the Storm Turns Toward China and Japan

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A Near Miss With Real Consequences

Champi did not make a direct hit on Taiwan, but it came close enough to cause serious disruption. Early on Saturday, October 24, the storm grazed the island's northeast coast. By the afternoon it was about 150 kilometers (93 miles) offshore, according to Taiwan's Central Weather Administration (CWA).

Taiwan's fire department reports one death: a man swept away by waves off the small island of Liuqiu. It also counted 527 injuries during the storm's heavy wind and rain.

Power companies reported that more than 167,000 households lost electricity at the peak of the storm. Most have since been reconnected.

Flights Grounded, Offices and Schools Closed

Air travel took a heavy hit. Transport officials said 242 flights were cancelled on Saturday. That is far fewer than on Friday, when the number came close to 1,000.

Northern and central Taiwan, including the capital Taipei, kept offices and schools closed for a second day. Residents in Taipei saw fallen trees and on-and-off squalls of rain.

From Super Typhoon to Weakening Storm

Champi has lost much of its strength. Earlier this week it was a Category 5-equivalent super typhoon with peak winds of about 296 km/h (184 mph). Regional media described it as the strongest storm of the year and the fifth super typhoon of 2026.

By Saturday, the CWA measured gusts of around 126 km/h (78 mph) near the storm's center. That is still dangerous, but far below its peak.

Forecasters had expected the storm to turn north once it reached cooler waters east of Taiwan. That is largely what happened, and it spared the island a direct landfall. Even so, heavy rain was forecast for northern and eastern Taiwan through Saturday, with waves of up to six meters (about 20 feet) off the east coast.

Why Taiwan Usually Fares Well

Taiwan has long experience with typhoons, and that experience shows. Agencies stepped up preparations days in advance, suspending some transport services and closing tourist sites. Airlines cancelled flights to Okinawa before the storm arrived.

Typhoons are most common in summer, but they can also strike in autumn, as Champi shows. The island's routine of early warnings, closures and clear public instructions is a major reason casualty numbers usually stay low, even when a storm is powerful.

What Comes Next

The storm is now heading north toward China's coast and is expected to weaken further along the way. Forecasters expect it to move on toward southern Japan, including Okinawa, over the weekend. Japan's weather agency has warned of strong winds, dangerous waves and disruption to ferries and flights.

The Philippines, where the storm was called "Rosal," also felt its effects earlier in the week. Its weather agency noted that the rain was welcome, as a strong El Niño pattern has begun to bring unusually warm weather to the country. (El Niño is a climate pattern, linked to warmer Pacific waters, that can shift weather worldwide.)

Forecast tracks can still change. People in the path of the storm should follow official updates from their local weather services.

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Sources

1. Reuters, "Typhoon Champi sweeps past Taiwan, one dead and 500 injured": https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/typhoon-champi-sweeps-past-taiwan-one-dead-500-injured-2026-10-24/
2. Taipei Times, forecast and preparations (Oct 22, 2026): https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2026/10/22/2003866405
3. Khaleej Times, "Super Typhoon Champi spares Taiwan direct hit, brings heavy rain to Japan and Philippines" (Oct 21, 2026): https://www.khaleejtimes.com/world/asia/super-typhoon-champi-spares-taiwan-direct-hit-brings-heavy-rain-to-japan-and-philippines
4. South China Morning Post, "Strongest storm of the year barrels towards Taiwan and mainland China": https://scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3371627/strongest-storm-year-barrels-towards-taiwan-and-mainland-china
5. Focus Taiwan (CNA), "Typhoon Champi could approach or cross Taiwan next week: CWA" (Oct 17, 2026): https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202610170013

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