Premier urges public to avoid coasts and hills as Typhoon Champi hits holiday weekend

During a cabinet news conference, Premier Cho Jung-tai urged the public to avoid beaches, creeks and hill regions as Typhoon Champi nears Taiwan, coinciding with the Retrocession Day holiday. The Central Weather Administration reported the system is advancing from the east, expected to turn north and make landfall early Friday, with the strongest winds from Friday to Saturday. Sea and land warnings were issued, forecasting Beaufort level 12 gusts on the eastern and northeastern coasts, the Hengchun Peninsula and the outlying islands of Lanyu and Green Island.

Heavy to extremely heavy rain is predicted for northern, northeastern and central Taiwan, with up to 900 millimetres possible in some mountainous zones. The National Fire Agency has asked Hualien County to evacuate residents downstream of the Wanli Creek landslide dam, which currently contains five million metric tons of water. Officials stressed that the public should remain clear of affected areas even after the storm passes.