Typhoon Champi kills one and injures more than 500 in Taiwan as it heads to China

Typhoon Champi caused one fatality and over 500 injuries in Taiwan as it approached the Chinese coastline on Saturday. The powerful storm, once classified as a super typhoon, weakened but still maintained winds of approximately 78 mph near its center. Despite its weakened state, Champi brought gusts of up to 78 mph and torrential rain, uprooting trees and disrupting power.

Taiwan's Central Weather Administration reported the storm was positioned about 93 miles east of the island's northeast coast. Forecast data suggests Champi will turn north towards the Chinese coast and eventually reach southern Japan. The fire department confirmed one man was swept away by waves from Liuqiu Island, while 527 people sustained injuries due to the intense winds and rain.

The power company Taipower reported that more than 167,000 homes lost electricity, but the majority had since been restored. Authorities declared an additional two days of closures for offices and schools in northern and central Taiwan, with some flight cancellations still in effect. Although typhoons are more typical in summer, Taiwan is generally well-prepared for such storms, which helps minimize casualties.