Typhoon Champi is weakening, and it's starting to move away from from the
island.

The storm's sustained winds have fallen to around 125km/h at the center, with
gusts of up to 160km/h.

Champi's eye is located around 150km due east of Taipei at this hour, and the
storm's radius is around 250km.

Office closures are in effect throughout northern and central Taiwan, as well
as in Yilan and Lianjiang County.

Nevertheless, many businesses in northern Taiwan are planning to be open this
afternoon. Examples include Far Eastern's Xinyi A13, which will open at 1pm,
while Sogo and Shin Kong Mitsukoshi are planning to open stores at 2pm in
northern Taiwan ... and to operate normally in the center and south.

The Taipei Railway Administration says eastern and western trunk lines will
gradually regain normal operations starting at noon. There are exceptions, so
check the TRA website or customer hotline before you head out. The TRA
reminds customers that refunds are available for trains that were cancelled
due to the storm.

According to the Civil Aeronautics Administration, 145 domestic flights and
114 international flights have been cancelled today.

The Maritime and Port Bureau says six ferry routes affecting 84 voyages have
been cancelled.

Check airline and ferry websites for specifics.

Meanwhile, Taipower says that as of 9am, 56,600 customers were without
electricity. That's after nearly 290,000 *had* lost power, meaning 80 percent
had recovered power.

The most-affected area is Yilan County, which had nearly 16,000 customers
without power as of 9 o'clock. Nearly 13,000 were blacked out in New Taipei
City. Taoyuan followed far behind, with fewer than 4,500 households without
power -- down from 43,600 at the blackout's peak.