TAIPEI, Oct 23 — 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.
