Typhoon Champi leaves one dead and hundreds injured as recovery continues in Taiwan

Credit: Taiwanplus The Central Emergency Operations Center (CEOC) reported at its LT ( UTC) briefing on October 24 that 508 of the injured people had been discharged from medical care, according to United Daily News. The fatality occurred in Liuqiu Township, Pingtung County, where a man was swept away a beach on October 22, according to CEOC information reported (CNA). Most reported injuries were minor cuts and bruises. Evacuations covered 12 cities and counties, including 1 649 people in New Taipei and 1 512 in Hsinchu County. The total included 140 people moved from areas exposed to a landslide-dammed lake along Wanli Creek in Hualien County. Of the 9 676 damage reports, 7 402 had been resolved and 2 274 still required action at the October 24 briefing. Fallen trees, downed power lines, damaged signs, and other infrastructure accounted for many reports. More than 350 000 electricity customers experienced outages during the storm. In an October 25 morning update reported , New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih said 4 085 customers in the city still needed power restored, mainly along the northeast coast and northern shoreline. Taipower’s Yilan branch subsequently said it had restored electricity to all affected residential customers in its service area by LT ( UTC) on October 25. More than 30 000 customers there had experienced outages during the storm. The Ministry of Agriculture’s assessment at LT ( UTC) on October 25 put agricultural and related private-facility losses at NT$193.32 million, up from NT$151.42 million that morning. Affected cropland increased to 3 205 ha (7 920 acres), equivalent to 767 ha (1 895 acres) of complete production loss. Yunlin accounted for approximately 65% of the preliminary national loss, followed 13%. Garlic remained the most heavily affected crop by value, followed by peanuts, onions, sweet corn and citrus; the ministry said assessments remained ongoing. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) ended its land warning at LT ( UTC) on October 24 and its sea warning at LT ( UTC). The storm passed close to Nanfang’ao in Yilan County, but CWA determined that its center did not make landfall. A separate wave incident was reported at Bisha Fishing Harbor in Keelung after the warnings ended. CNA’s October 25 report, updated at LT ( UTC), said rescuers were searching for a man swept into the sea while fishing with his son on the evening of October 24; the boy was injured and taken to hospital. Rainfall from October 22 through LT ( UTC) on October 24 reached 652 mm (25.7 inches) at Taipingshan in Yilan County. Mountain locations in Hsinchu and Taoyuan each recorded more than 500 mm (19.7 inches). CWA reported gusts of force 10 or stronger in approximately 87 townships.