Typhoon Champi grounds hundreds of flights in Taiwan, threatens eastern mainland China

Typhoon Champi is causing widespread disruption across East Asia, grounding hundreds of flights in Taiwan and threatening major airports in mainland China. As of 10am Friday, 262 domestic flights and 715 international and cross-strait flights had been cancelled in Taiwan, at the largest airports including Taiwan Taoyuan, Taipei Songshan, Kaohsiung and Taichung.

China's National Meteorological Centre reported that Typhoon Champi, which peaked as a super typhoon earlier in the week, had weakened to a severe typhoon with winds up to 162km/h (101mph) near its center. The storm is expected to approach Taiwan's northeastern coast on Friday night and move north along Zhejiang's eastern coast on Sunday, potentially skimming the mainland province before turning northeast towards Japan.

Heavy rainfall and strong winds are forecast to impact eastern China, with swollen rivers and heightened risks of flash floods in hilly areas. Emergency responses have been activated in Shanghai, Zhejiang and Fujian, and local flood-control authorities have taken measures to protect residential areas. In Shanghai, water levels in rivers and lakes have been lowered, and vessels in Jinshan district have been instructed to move to safer waters.

Coastal ferry routes, passenger ferries, and maritime construction projects in Fujian have been suspended due to the storm.