Typhoon Champi Slams Taiwan: Monster Waves Topple 164-Foot Crane at Fugang Harbor, Nearly 1,000 Flights Cancelled

Massive waves pounded Fugang Fishing Harbor in Taiwan’s Taitung County on Friday, October 23, as Typhoon Champi — at one point a super typhoon and one of the strongest storms in the Pacific this year — closed in on the island. Almost all of Taiwan shut down for the day, nearly 1,000 flights were cancelled, and thousands of residents were evacuated from high-risk areas.

Monster Waves Topple a 164-Foot Crane at Fugang

The most shocking footage of the day came from Fugang Fishing Port, where gigantic breakers detonated against the breakwater again and again. According to Focus Taiwan, waves of about 6 meters (20 feet) toppled a huge construction crane at around 9:40 a.m. Local broadcaster Formosa News reported waves reaching 10 meters (33 feet) along the wider Taitung coast and described the crane as about 50 meters (164 feet) tall and weighing roughly 250 tons.

After repeated hits, the crane tipped into the churning harbor as witnesses cried out. The wreckage reportedly sank across the harbor entrance, obstructing ferries and cargo vessels serving Green Island and Orchid Island. Weather.com reported towering waves crashing right over the harbor, with officials warning people to stay away from the coast.

Elsewhere on the east coast, waves reportedly reached 8 meters at Changbin Harbor in Taitung, and Focus Taiwan also reported damage in Kaohsiung, where an uprooted tree struck a passing truck and injured two people, as well as wind damage in Taichung and Taipei and wave damage to coastal roads on Orchid Island (Lanyu).

An Island Shuts Down

Reuters reported that Champi was still packing gusts of around 191 kph (119 mph) near its center, according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration (CWA), and sat about 170 km (106 miles) east of Taiwan on Friday. Its wind radius was around 320 km (200 miles) — large enough to cover most of Taiwan — and forecasters warned a direct landfall could not be ruled out if the storm stalled, looped or wobbled on approach.

“The storm’s wind radius is quite large, among the bigger ones in recent years,” CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng told Reuters. “If the storm slows down, the strong winds will affect Taiwan for longer.”

Financial markets closed, and only the Taiwan-controlled Kinmen islands opened schools and offices as normal. The transport ministry said all 262 domestic flights were cancelled, along with 717 international flights — 979 in total. The north-south high-speed rail kept running, and Taipei’s subway operated with reduced service.

Death, Injuries, Evacuations and Power Cuts

One person was killed and 163 people were injured, a figure revised down from 171, Reuters reported. That death was linked to a person being swept away by the dangerous coastal waves.

Early reports put the number of evacuees at just over 1,200, but the government later updated the total to 2,639 people evacuated from mountainous areas. Taipower said more than 77,000 homes lost power, though electricity had already been restored to most by the time of the report. Some later storm roundups put total power impacts higher, at over 146,000 customers.

In the northeastern county of Yilan, authorities handed out sandbags and put amphibious vehicles and inflatable rescue boats on standby. Coastal towns received mobile phone alerts warning of gusts exceeding 150 kph (93 mph) and urging residents to seek immediate shelter, while nearly a metre (3 feet) of rain was forecast for northern mountain areas, including around Taipei. Mountain rainfall of 566 mm (over 22 inches) was reported at Taipingshan, raising flooding and landslide concerns.

Chip giant TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, said its operations remained normal with no significant impact.

What Happens Next

Champi’s forecast track showed it passing just off northeastern Taiwan late Friday, then turning north toward the Chinese coast and eventually moving into southern Japan, first passing over Japan’s westernmost inhabited island, Yonaguni. Even though the storm was weakening and its center stayed offshore, forecasters warned the slow movement near northeastern Taiwan could prolong dangerous waves, strong winds and heavy rain overnight.

Taiwan is generally very well prepared for typhoons, which helps keep casualties low — but Friday’s images from Fugang, of a 250-ton crane disappearing into the sea, showed just how much force this storm carried.

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