Typhoon Champi leaves trail of damage across Taiwan; one dead, 350 injured

Although Typhoon Champi did not make direct landfall on Taiwan, its expansive circulation was sufficient to impact most of the island nation. Taiwan's meteorological authorities confirmed that the storm was weakening by Saturday morning, with land-based typhoon warnings expected to be lifted by evening.

The Central Emergency Operations Centre reported 350 people injured as of Friday night. One fatality was recorded when a man was swept away by waves in Pingtung County, Taiwan's southernmost region. The storm also caused extensive property damage, toppling trees and signage across multiple areas.

The typhoon's powerful winds resulted in widespread power disruptions affecting 280,000 households throughout Taiwan. However, electricity supply was restored to approximately 80 per cent of affected homes by Saturday morning, according to Taiwan's power authorities. Emergency crews worked through the night to restore critical services and clear debris from major roads and residential areas.

While Champi weakened as it moved across the region, authorities cautioned residents to remain vigilant for any residual effects as the storm system moved away from the island.