Flights Cancelled as Typhoon Chanthi Nears Taiwan and Japan

Typhoon Chanthi is disrupting travel across Taiwan and Japan, with hundreds of flights cancelled as the storm moves closer. Taiwan has also seen widespread closures of schools and workplaces in 20 cities and counties ahead of the typhoon's arrival.

Authorities in Taiwan issued an alert as forecasts pointed to heavy rain and wind speeds rising to as high as 170 kilometres per hour. Local administrations on Friday adopted precautionary measures in anticipation of severe weather.

Closures on Friday affect Keelung, Greater Taipei, Taoyuan, Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung, Yilan, Hualien, Penghu and Lienchiang. In these areas, schools have shut and many workplaces have paused operations.

The Central Weather Administration issued its typhoon warning at 11:30 am on Thursday, October 22. The storm is forecast to be closest to Taiwan from Friday morning through evening, with effects possibly continuing until Saturday evening.

Air travel has been hit hard. In Taiwan, more than 100 flights were cancelled before the typhoon's arrival. Japan has also been affected, with over 160 flights cancelled across four airlines.

All Nippon Airways announced that all flights to and from Miyako and Ishigaki airports in Okinawa Prefecture would be cancelled for the entire day on Friday. Japan Airlines also cancelled several flights to Taipei Songshan Airport and Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, affecting thousands of passengers travelling between Japan and Taiwan. Travellers from the southern Okinawa islands have faced difficulties as well.

Officials have warned people to stay away from beaches and hilly areas, and travellers are urged to keep checking their flight status.