Typhoon Champi strikes Taiwan, killing one and injuring hundreds

Typhoon Champi swept past northeastern Taiwan in October 2026, killing one man off Liuqiu island and injuring over 500 people. The storm forced the evacuation of more than 4,300 residents from mountainous areas, knocked out power to over 167,000 homes, grounded nearly 1,000 flights, and closed schools and financial markets for two days. Champi also caused injuries, flight cancellations, and power outages in Japan's Okinawa prefecture and triggered precautionary evacuations and port closures in the northern Philippines.

Impact in northeastern Taiwan

• ▪Typhoon Champi swept past northeastern Taiwan, downing trees, disrupting power, and bringing heavy rainfall
• ▪On October 23, 2026, authorities in Taiwan's northeastern Yilan County distributed sandbags and placed amphibious vehicles and inflatable rescue boats on standby as Typhoon Champi approached

Typhoon Champi strength and size

• ▪Taiwan's Central Weather Administration reported Typhoon Champi reached super typhoon status earlier with peak sustained winds near 298 km/h (185 mph) before weakening
• ▪Central Weather Administration forecaster Liu Pei-teng stated Typhoon Champi had a wind radius of around 320 km, covering most of Taiwan

Typhoon Champi track and forecast

• ▪Forecast tracks show Typhoon Champi turning north toward the eastern coast of China before moving northeast toward southern Japan
• ▪Typhoon Champi was positioned about 150 km east of Taiwan on October 24, 2026, with gusts around 126 km/h near its center
• ▪Central Weather Administration forecasters warned Typhoon Champi could drop up to 900 mm (35 inches) of rain in Taiwan between October 22 and October 24, 2026

Disruptions and evacuations in Taiwan

• ▪Northern and central Taiwan, including the capital city Taipei, shut down schools and financial markets for two consecutive days due to Typhoon Champi
• ▪Taiwan's transport ministry reported nearly 1,000 domestic and international flights were cancelled on October 23, 2026, with 242 cancellations remaining on October 24
• ▪Taiwanese authorities evacuated more than 4,300 people from vulnerable mountainous regions due to Typhoon Champi
• ▪Taiwan power company Taipower reported that more than 167,000 households lost electricity during Typhoon Champi before power was largely restored

Casualties in Taiwan

• ▪Taiwan's fire department reported that more than 500 people were injured across Taiwan as Typhoon Champi brought heavy winds and torrential rain
• ▪One man was killed on October 22, 2026, after being swept away by waves at Liuqiu island off the southeastern coast of Taiwan

Impacts in other regions

• ▪Typhoon Champi earlier passed near several Pacific islands, including Guam, where a federal disaster area was declared
• ▪In Okinawa prefecture, Japan, Typhoon Champi injured one woman on Miyako island, left nearly 8,400 households without electricity, and grounded regional flights
• ▪Philippine authorities suspended ferry traffic, shut Basco airport in Batanes, and evacuated nearly 200 people in Cagayan province as Typhoon Champi passed north of the Philippines

Global El Niño projections

• ▪World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Celeste Saulo stated that the 2026 El Niño event could reach unprecedented strength off the monitoring charts
• ▪The United Nations noted that the current El Niño event is expected to peak in December 2026, with impacts continuing into 2027