Taiwan suspended work in 21 of 22 counties and cities and canceled all scheduled domestic flights Friday, Oct. 23, as Typhoon Champi’s wind field reached the island; Reuters reported that financial markets would close.
Taitung County announced a countywide suspension at 6:30 p.m. ET Thursday (22:30 UTC). CNA’s Friday roundup counted 21 counties and cities with work and classes suspended, naming Kinmen as the only exception. Taiwan had issued a land warning for Champi as the storm approached.
The Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) said every domestic flight scheduled for Friday was canceled. Reuters reported that Taiwan’s Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) counted 262 domestic cancellations and more than 350 international cancellations. Reuters also reported a Friday closure of Taiwan’s financial markets.
At 6 p.m. ET Thursday (22:00 UTC), Central Weather Administration (CWA) data put Champi’s force-7 wind radius at 320 kilometers, with the storm’s center 330 kilometers east of Cape Eluanbi. The agency said the typhoon’s wind field had reached eastern Taiwan. It forecast the heaviest rain through early Saturday, with conditions expected to improve later that day.
