Taiwan is working to restore electricity and recover from flooding and wind damage after Typhoon Champi battered the island, leaving about 56,000 households without power on Saturday, according to the latest account carried by Phys.org.
The storm dumped heavy rain, toppled trees and brought down power lines as it passed near Taiwan’s northeast. More than 5,000 people were evacuated ahead of the typhoon, while most shops in northern and central Taiwan remained closed for a second day.
Heavy rain and extensive disruption
Champi brought particularly intense rainfall to parts of the island. Nearly 24 centimeters of rain was recorded in Miaoli County in western Taiwan on Saturday. In Yilan County, on the northeast coast, forecasters said 65 centimeters had fallen since Thursday.
The severe weather also caused brief flooding and disrupted transport and daily activity. Authorities reported one death and more than 500 injuries since warnings for the incoming system began on Thursday.
While the worst period of the storm’s direct impact had passed, Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration warned that strong winds and rough seas remained a danger in surrounding waters as Champi moved north.
Storm weakens after a powerful ocean crossing
Champi had briefly reached super-typhoon strength while crossing the Pacific, with reported maximum sustained winds near 300 kilometers per hour. By Saturday, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center reported winds of about 120 kilometers per hour as the system weakened and moved away from Taiwan toward China and Japan.
The typhoon looped offshore near Yilan before tracking north. That movement prolonged the period of heavy rain in northeastern Taiwan even as its wind intensity eased overnight.
Recovery remains the immediate priority
Emergency crews were focused on restoring electrical service after fallen trees and damaged lines cut power across affected areas. The outage total underscores how damaging winds can disrupt essential infrastructure even after a storm’s core moves away.
Officials urged residents to remain cautious around coastal waters and exposed areas. The warning reflects continuing hazards from high winds and waves, rather than only the rainfall and power damage experienced during the typhoon’s closest approach.
Champi arrives during a busy Pacific storm season associated in the report with El Niño-driven warming in the equatorial Pacific. For Taiwan, the immediate challenge is restoring services and managing lingering weather risks as the storm moves northward.
This article is based on reporting by Phys.org. Read the original article.
Originally published on phys.org
