Typhoon Champi leaves 527 injured in Taiwan as regional disruption spreads

Champi strengthened over the western Pacific before bringing damaging winds, heavy rain and dangerous waves to Taiwan. An advisory published by leyte2electriccoop on October 19 said the storm had re-intensified into a super typhoon.

Its strength drew attention well before it reached Taiwan. Scientific American reported winds of 185 miles per hour, describing Champi as the strongest storm of 2026. Yahoo News described it as tied with April's Super Typhoon Sinlaku for the strongest one-minute winds, rather than an outright record.

The Philippines was also on alert. On October 20, philstar.com reported wind warnings across seven areas for the storm, known locally as Rosal.

By October 21, a higher wind warning remained in force in Batanes as Champi moved west-northwest over waters east of Northern Luzon, according to philstar.com. The storm had slightly weakened, but regional preparations were expanding.

On October 22, Taiwan issued a land warning. World News CNA reported that Champi still carried gusts above 227 kilometres per hour near its centre despite weakening. Bloomberg reported that Taiwan's stock exchange would close Friday, alongside offices and schools in Taipei.

By October 23, much of Taiwan had shut down. CNN Brasil reported nearly 1,000 flight cancellations. The storm's radius was about 320 kilometres, large enough to cover most of Taiwan, according to The Hindu.

The first fatality was a person swept away by waves on Liuqiu island, authorities said, according to BBC News. Injury figures rose across successive reports: Euronews reported 94 injured on October 23, while Al Jazeera later reported 350.

On October 24, World News CNA reported one death and 527 injuries. Arab News reported that Champi had swept past Taiwan, downing trees and cutting power as it weakened and moved north toward the Chinese coast.

Taiwan's immediate task is restoring electricity and assessing the damage. Phys.org reported emergency crews working on October 24 to reconnect tens of thousands of homes. Large parts of Taiwan, including Taipei, remained mostly closed, according to The Guardian.

The storm is weaker, but not harmless. World News CNA reported gusts of around 126 kilometres per hour near its centre, citing Taiwan's Central Weather authorities. Injury totals still differ across the coverage: The Hindu carried a figure of 350 on October 24, while World News CNA and Infobae reported 527.

Disruption has spread to eastern China. South China Morning Post reported that authorities had relocated tens of thousands of people and grounded more than a hundred flights as Champi battered the coast on October 24.

Japan remains in the storm's projected path. Japan Times reported on October 24 that Champi was travelling north of the Okinawa islands and could approach Kyushu on Monday morning, before becoming an extratropical cyclone by Tuesday morning.

In Taiwan, the next updates will clarify how quickly electricity and normal services can return. Phys.org reported that restoration work was still under way on Saturday, while South China Morning Post reported continuing flight disruption in eastern China.