A powerful storm system known as Typhoon Champi, now downgraded to a tropical storm, approached China’s eastern coast on Wednesday following severe weather impacts in Taiwan and Japan. The storm, carrying sustained winds of up to 102 kilometers per hour, caused widespread disruptions, including power outages, flight cancellations, and evacuations.

Taiwanese authorities evacuated more than 5,000 residents ahead of the typhoon’s arrival. The storm’s passage brought down trees and power lines, triggering brief flooding across the island. Since Thursday, when warnings were first issued, one fatality and over 600 injuries have been reported. At the storm’s peak, more than 340,000 households lost electricity, but power has now been restored to over 90 percent of those affected.

Schools and most retail establishments remained closed for a second consecutive day in northern and central Taiwan as the storm moved away from the island’s northeast, near Yilan County, and tracked toward China. The Central Weather Administration cautioned that despite the typhoon’s weakening, coastal regions should expect continued strong winds and high swells. Yilan County experienced heavy rainfall totaling at least 65 centimeters since Thursday.

Champi reached its peak intensity as a super typhoon over the Pacific Ocean, with maximum sustained winds close to 300 kilometers per hour, before weakening as it performed a loop off Taiwan’s northeast coast. The current storm activity is linked to an active Pacific typhoon season, reportedly intensified by the El Niño phenomenon causing unprecedented ocean warming in the equatorial Pacific.

In China, authorities issued warnings of "strong winds and heavy rain" across eastern provinces, including Jiangsu, Shanghai, and Zhejiang. Tens of thousands of residents have been evacuated, and train services have been suspended in some areas. State broadcaster CCTV highlighted expectations for heavy to torrential rainfall across the region.

The southernmost Japanese prefecture of Okinawa also faced disruptions, with hundreds of flights canceled and at least two injuries reported. Tourists stranded on Ishigaki Island expressed frustration over flight delays. “We hope it’s our last day,” said Eva Malek, a tourist from Poland, describing the unexpected severity of the storm.

As Champi moves further north, authorities across the affected regions continue monitoring conditions and advising residents to remain vigilant against potential flooding and wind damage.