TAIPEI, Taiwan – Most shops and schools were shut across Taiwan on Friday as Typhoon Champi neared the island, forcing hundreds of people to leave their homes ahead of the powerful storm.

The typhoon is expected to sweep past Taiwan’s northeast as it moves towards China and Japan, triggering the cancellation of hundreds of flights in the region.

At least one person has been killed in Taiwan after being swept away by waves whipped up by the typhoon, authorities said. Dozens of others have been injured.

Champi is the latest in a busy Pacific storm season turbo-charged by the El Nino weather phenomenon that has caused unprecedented warming in the equatorial Pacific.

The storm was briefly a super typhoon as it crossed the ocean, but has been weakening as it approaches Taiwan and now has maximum sustained wind speeds of 167 kilometres (104 miles) per hour, according to the latest update from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

Heavy rain, strong winds and giant waves are forecast for Friday and Saturday, and thousands of military personnel are on standby to assist with rescue efforts.

More than 1,200 people had been evacuated from their homes ahead of Champi.

“As it approaches Taiwan’s northeastern tip… the typhoon may slow down. If it slows down, its impact will last longer,” the Central Weather Administration’s Lu Kuo-chen told a briefing.

In Japan, several local events in the southern Okinawa prefecture have been cancelled.

There has been no change to the ongoing Japan-US joint military exercise, Keen Sword, being held in various parts of Japan, but a Japanese military spokeswoman has said they will be “flexible” in implementing the drill.

Professional storm-chaser James Reynolds posted a video on X from Ishigaki showing a “fierce storm tide” in a channel leading to the island’s harbour as Champi’s strong winds whipped across the water.

“I’m seeing the ocean do things I’ve not seen in 20 years of doing this!!” Reynolds said in the post.

‘Extremely heavy rain’

Champi is expected to dump up to 90 centimetres (35 inches) of rain from Thursday to Saturday, with northeastern Taiwan to be hardest hit, the forecaster said.

“People should be aware that the strong winds and extremely heavy rain will continue into the first half of tomorrow,” Lu said.

Work and classes were cancelled for the day across nearly all of Taiwan, leaving streets quiet as most locals hunkered down at home. The stock exchange was also closed.

Some businesses installed sandbags or metal barriers at entrances to prevent flooding.

“I’m worried about flooding. The vegetables could get flooded and rot, a 73-year-old farmer surnamed Tsai told AFP in New Taipei City.

Convenience store worker Peter Chen said he was concerned about the weather conditions on Friday night when the eye of the typhoon would be closer to Taiwan’s coast.

“We might prepare some sandbags,” the 27-year-old said.

The United Nations said Wednesday that the El Nino system gripping the planet is heading off the charts, and that countries should take urgent action to prepare for the worst.

El Nino is expected to peak in December, but the human impact is set to last into 2027 and beyond.

The warming phase of a natural climate cycle, El Nino temporarily raises sea temperatures in the tropical Pacific, triggering changes in weather that can increase the risk of drought and flooding, and exacerbate human-caused global warming. /gsg