Typhoon Champi grounds over 100 Japan flights amid Taiwan land warning
Taiwan issues a land warning as gusts exceed 227kph, while the United States and Japan adjust a major military exercise involving 56,000 personnel.
- Taiwan has issued a land warning for Typhoon Champi, alerting coastal towns of waves exceeding six meters and significant rainfall in northern mountains.
- In Japan, major airlines including Japan Airlines, ANA, and Skymark have cancelled over 100 flights, disrupting travel for more than 11,000 passengers.
- The typhoon has also caused the cancellation of 125 flights in Taiwan, predominantly on domestic routes.
- With gusts over 227 km/h, the storm is projected to pass northeastern Taiwan before moving towards southern Japan.
Coastal towns in Taiwan received mobile phone alerts warning of waves exceeding six metres (20 feet) as authorities issued a land warning for Typhoon Champi on Thursday, 22 October 2026.
Rainfall could approach one metre (3 feet) in the northern mountains, including the hills near Taipei.
Weather experts said Taiwan could experience the storm’s effects for almost two days.
President Lai Ching-te asked residents to prepare immediately and avoid visiting mountainous areas or the coast.
“A little more preparation means less risk,” Lai wrote on Facebook.
Summer is Taiwan’s more usual typhoon season, but autumn storms can also bring torrential rain and strong winds.
The island’s generally high level of preparedness helps keep casualties low.
Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration (CWA) located Champi about 520 kilometres (320 miles) southeast of the island’s southern tip.
Its radius had widened slightly to 320 kilometres (199 miles), sufficient to cover most of Taiwan.
Gusts near the centre remained above 227 kilometres per hour (141 mph), the CWA reported, despite a slight weakening on Thursday.
Champi had earlier been a super typhoon and was among the Pacific’s strongest storms this year.
The projected route takes Champi past northeastern Taiwan, then north towards the Chinese coast before it eventually moves into southern Japan.
The storm is also forecast to pass over Yonaguni in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan’s westernmost inhabited island.
Air travel disruption extended to Taiwan and Japan, with more than 200 flights cancelled.
Taiwan’s transport ministry reported 125 cancellations for Thursday, predominantly on domestic routes.
More than 11,000 passengers have had their travel plans disrupted by cancellations announced by Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Skymark.
The three carriers have cancelled over 100 flights scheduled between Thursday and Sunday, mostly domestic services.
Taiwan’s rail network had not so far been affected by the typhoon, according to the transport ministry.
The interior ministry, meanwhile, said no evacuations of residents had yet been reported.
The approaching storm has also forced changes to Keen Sword, a major military exercise taking place around Japanese islands near Taiwan.
Training began on Monday, involving about 56,000 personnel from Japan and the United States alongside forces from five other countries, including the Philippines and Australia.
Amphibious landings and missile defence drills form part of the exercise’s preparations for defending Japan.
Conducted every two years, Keen Sword rehearses coordinated operations on land, at sea and in the air.
“Training activities are being adjusted on a day-to-day basis to ensure the safety of all participants,” the US military said.
Source: Reuters
