Typhoon Champi batters Taiwan, killing one and injuring hundreds
Typhoon Champi has struck Taiwan, killing one person and injuring at least 350, as forecasters warn the slow-moving storm could dump up to 900mm of rain, Al Jazeera reports.
Typhoon Champi has struck Taiwan, killing one person and injuring at least 350 others, Al Jazeera reports, citing its own staff reporting and AFP.
The storm swept past the island's northeast on Friday, toppling trees, forcing shops and schools to close, and cutting power to homes, according to the report.
Taiwan's Central Weather Administration (CWA) warned that conditions would remain 'very windy and stormy' from Friday night into Saturday morning, urging residents to shelter as the typhoon passes, Al Jazeera reports.
Champi briefly reached super typhoon strength, packing winds of nearly 300 kilometres per hour (186 miles per hour), according to the report. Forecasters now warn it could drop as much as 900mm (35 inches) of rain in some areas on Saturday.
CWA forecaster Lu Kuo-chen said the typhoon could slow near the island's northeastern tip, prolonging stormy conditions, Al Jazeera reports.
The storm is now heading towards China and Japan, forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights across the region. About 8,400 households in Japan's Okinawa islands were without power on Friday afternoon, according to the report.
Champi is the latest storm in a Pacific typhoon season supercharged by El Nino, a natural cycle that warms the tropical Pacific and intensifies storms, Al Jazeera reports.
Source: Al Jazeera English — TrendWire reports stories in its own words; facts should be confirmed against the original source.