One person has been killed and dozens of others have been injured in Taiwan as Typhoon Champi nears, authorities say.
More than 1,000 people have been evacuated from their homes, according to the government.
Typhoon Champi is battering Taiwan with heavy rain and powerful winds, forcing widespread closures and disrupting air, rail and ferry services as authorities warn of possible flooding, landslides and dangerous coastal conditions.
Work and classes have been suspended in 21 of Taiwan’s 22 counties and cities, with only Kinmen County maintaining normal operations. The island’s stock exchange has also closed, while all 262 domestic flights and more than 660 international flights scheduled for Friday have reportedly been cancelled.
Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration says the storm’s circulation is expected to continue affecting the island until Saturday evening. Some areas of Taipei have recorded more than 200 millimetres of rainfall in 24 hours, while northern areas face particularly strong winds.
Authorities have urged residents to stay away from beaches and mountainous areas as the risk of storm surges, landslides and flooding increases.
Meanwhile, Japan has cancelled more than 160 flights across four airlines as the typhoon disrupts travel. All Nippon Airways has cancelled every flight departing from or arriving at Miyako and Ishigaki airports in Okinawa for the entire day.
Okinawa Electric Power also reports that 3,630 households are without electricity. The utility says dangerous weather conditions have complicated restoration efforts, forcing crews to carry out some operations remotely.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has urged the public to exercise extreme caution against destructive winds, high waves, landslides and storm surges.
Typhoon Champi is moving northwest towards Taiwan but is forecast to turn away from China’s eastern coast by Saturday afternoon and head towards Japan.
China has issued a blue alert, its lowest typhoon warning level, forecasting strong winds and rainfall of between 50 and 80 millimetres along parts of the eastern coast, including Shanghai.
Zhejiang Province has issued an orange alert, the second-highest level, warning of huge waves along its coastline.
