Taiwan has effectively shut down today as Typhoon Champi approaches, prompting the cancellation of 669 international flights and all domestic air travel. Although the storm is showing signs of weakening, it remains a powerful threat with a massive wind radius of about 320 kilometers. Meteorologists warn that if the typhoon stalls or shifts its path, it could still make a direct landfall on the island, with authorities urging residents in coastal and mountainous regions to take immediate cover as extreme rainfall and high-speed gusts hit the island.

The government has proactively evacuated nearly 1,300 people from vulnerable mountain areas, and emergency services are on high alert, with military units and rescue equipment stationed in flood-prone towns like Suao. Despite the widespread closure of schools, offices, and financial markets, the island’s high-speed rail network continues to run, and the capital, Taipei, is maintaining limited public transit services. While Taiwan is well-versed in storm preparedness, the sheer size of this typhoon means its impact could be felt for the next two days before the storm moves toward the Chinese coast and southern Japan.