Typhoon Champi Batters Okinawa With Violent Winds and Heavy Rain

Powerful winds and torrential rain battered Japan’s Okinawa region on October 23 as Typhoon Champi, the 30th typhoon of the season, brought severe weather conditions to the islands. Dramatic footage filmed from a high-rise building shows palm trees bending violently under powerful gusts, while heavy rain and mist reduce visibility across a parking lot and the surrounding urban area. The resident who recorded the footage described the storm as the biggest they had ever experienced, reporting power outages and buildings shaking amid the relentless winds. The storm also raised concerns for electricity workers carrying out restoration operations in challenging weather conditions. Forecasts warned of wind speeds reaching up to 198 kilometres per hour, along with heavy rainfall and high waves affecting the Sakishima Islands.