Land Warning Issued for Typhoon Champi as Strong Winds, High Waves Lash Coast

Taiwan is bracing for severe weather as powerful Typhoon Champi approaches the eastern coast, prompting the Central Weather Administration to issue land and sea warnings ahead of schedule on Thursday morning. Sustaining core winds of 180 km/h and expanding to a massive 320-kilometer radius, the storm has already generated hazardous swells exceeding six meters. In Yilan, coast guard rescue teams are searching for a man swept into the sea by violent waves, while ferry services rushed to evacuate hundreds of people from Green Island. Meanwhile, vulnerable communities in Hualien's Guangfu township face heightened anxiety over lingering barrier lakes, loose earth and disrupted drainage systems left incomplete since last year's flooding. Four central disaster command centers have been established as authorities urge nationwide vigilance.