Typhoon Champi causes widespread cancellations and closures across East Asia near Taiwan

Hundreds of flights were cancelled in the East Asia region on Friday as Typhoon Champi approached Taiwan's north-east coast, leading to the closure of schools and offices across Taiwan. The storm, which was the planet's strongest storm of the year so far with peak wind gusts of 191 kph, is forecast to bring 90cm of rain and strong winds until Saturday. Authorities reported one death, 171 injuries, and 1,000 evacuations in Taiwan. Taiwan's $5tn stock exchange was closed, and in Japan, nearly 8,400 households in southern Okinawa experienced power outages, with over 160 flights cancelled across four Japanese airlines.