Typhoon Champi shuts Taiwan: schools, offices closed, 600+ flights cancelled
Typhoon Champi brought schools, offices and financial markets across almost all of Taiwan to a halt on Friday, October 23, with more than 600 flights cancelled and up to 900 mm of rain forecast in the northern mountains.
At a glance
- Schools and offices closed on Friday, October 23, 2026, in every Taiwanese city and county except Kinmen; Taitung County joined the closures at 6am.
- More than 600 flights were cancelled, including all 262 domestic flights and over 350 international services, the transport ministry said.
- Champi had sustained winds of 173 km/h and gusts of up to 198 km/h; its centre is forecast to pass within 80 km of Taiwan late Friday night or early Saturday, and landfall cannot be ruled out.
- Up to 600–900 mm of rain is forecast in the northern and northeastern mountains, with waves above 10 metres along the coast.
- A free diver in his 20s died after being swept out to sea off Siaoliouciou island in Pingtung; more than 23,000 soldiers are on standby for rescues.
Typhoon Champi brought almost all of Taiwan to a standstill on Friday, October 23, 2026, as schools, government offices and financial markets closed in every city and county except Kinmen, and more than 600 flights were cancelled. The storm, which earlier this week was one of the strongest on Earth this year, is forecast to pass within about 80 km of the island late on Friday night or early on Saturday, bringing up to 900 mm of rain to the northern mountains and waves taller than 10 metres along the coast.
What happened
Taiwan's Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued a sea warning late on Wednesday and a land warning on Thursday, later widening it to 19 areas of the main island, with Penghu and Matsu (Lienchiang) likely to be added. By 9pm on Thursday every local government except Kinmen had announced that schools and offices would close on Friday. Taitung County first closed only its outlying Green Island and Orchid Island (Lanyu), then shut the rest of the county at 6am on Friday.
Taiwan's transport ministry said more than 600 flights were cancelled, including all 262 domestic flights and more than 350 international services. Ferries, some rail services and national parks were also suspended or closed, while Taipei's metro kept running on a reduced timetable. Financial markets stayed shut, and stock exchange settlements due on Friday were moved to the next business day. In Kaohsiung, major shopping centres also closed.
| Typhoon Champi — key figures | Detail |
|---|---|
| Position (5pm Thursday) | About 450 km east of Eluanbi (Oluanpi), Taiwan's southern tip |
| Movement | North-west at 18 km/h, turning north-north-west and slowing |
| Maximum sustained winds | 173 km/h |
| Gusts | Up to 198 km/h |
| Storm radius | 320 km (force-7 winds); 160 km (force-10 winds) |
| Closest approach | Within ~80 km, late Friday night to early Saturday |
| Rain forecast | 600–900 mm in northern and north-eastern mountains |
| Waves | Above 10 metres along the coast |
| Flights cancelled | 600+ (262 domestic, 350+ international) |
The storm has weakened from super typhoon strength to what the CWA calls a "moderate" typhoon, but it remains large enough for its outer bands to cover the whole island. CWA forecaster Wu Wan-hua said its track could become erratic because of Taiwan's mountains and that a direct landfall is still possible. The heaviest rain is expected from Friday through Saturday morning, especially in the mountains of northern and north-eastern Taiwan, with heavy showers also possible in the mountains of Taichung and Hualien.
Background
Champi strengthened into a Category 5 super typhoon earlier this week in the western Pacific, causing widespread power cuts on Guam during its closest approach, and later skirted the far north of the Philippines, where it was known locally as Rosal. It is part of an unusually busy Pacific storm season that forecasters link to a strong El Niño, which the United Nations has warned is building towards a peak in December.
Taiwan is hit by several typhoons most years, and island-wide "typhoon days" off school and work are declared when local governments judge winds or rain will be dangerous. A closure across nearly every county at once is less common and reflects the size of Champi's wind field.
Before the main storm arrived, a free diver in his 20s died after being swept out to sea by a strong rip current off Siaoliouciou island in Pingtung County. Rescue divers found him more than two hours after the search began.
Reactions
Premier Cho Jung-tai urged people to stay away from rivers, beaches and mountain areas — even after the storm passes — because Friday's closures run straight into the three-day Retrocession Day holiday weekend that begins on Saturday. He also briefed the Cabinet on the Wanli Creek landslide dam in Hualien County, which holds about 5 million tonnes of water. National Fire Agency chief secretary Cheng Chih-chiang said the agency had asked Hualien County to evacuate residents living downstream.
More than 23,000 military personnel have been placed on standby for rescue and relief work.
Why it matters
Taiwan is home to the world's most important chip factories, and any long shutdown can ripple through global technology supply chains, although chipmakers usually keep production running through typhoons. The closure of the stock market and all domestic air travel shows how seriously officials are taking the storm's slow, erratic track: a typhoon that stalls near the coast can dump far more rain than a fast-moving one, raising the risk of floods and landslides in mountain villages.
For travellers from Pakistan, India and the Gulf with connections through Taipei, delays are likely to continue into Saturday as airlines clear the backlog.
What happens next
The CWA expects Champi to move away from Taiwan by Saturday evening, October 24, but heavy rain could continue in the north and in central mountain areas after that. The storm is expected to pass near or over Yonaguni in Japan's Okinawa Prefecture, then turn north towards the eastern Chinese coast and Japan's southern islands. Local governments will decide on Friday evening whether offices and schools reopen; Saturday is already a public holiday.
Safety advice
- Stay indoors during the closest approach late Friday night and early Saturday.
- Keep away from rivers, beaches, harbours and mountain roads, which are prone to landslides.
- Check CWA warnings and your airline's app before travelling to Taoyuan, Songshan or Kaohsiung airports.
- Charge phones and keep torches, water and essential medicines ready in case of power cuts.
Questions people are asking
Are schools and offices closed in Taiwan today because of Typhoon Champi?
Yes. On Friday, October 23, 2026, schools and offices were closed in every city and county of Taiwan except Kinmen, including Taipei, New Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Penghu and Matsu. Taiwan's financial markets were also shut for the day.
Will Typhoon Champi make landfall in Taiwan?
The Central Weather Administration said Champi's centre is expected to pass within about 80 km of Taiwan late Friday night or early Saturday and that a direct landfall cannot be ruled out. The storm is forecast to move away from Taiwan by Saturday evening and then head north towards Japan's southern islands and the Chinese coast.
Are flights cancelled in Taiwan because of the typhoon?
Yes. More than 600 flights were cancelled on Friday, including all 262 domestic flights and more than 350 international flights, according to Taiwan's transport ministry. Travellers should check with their airline before going to Taoyuan, Songshan or Kaohsiung airports.
