The Calm Before the Storm: Itbayat Island, Batanes, Ahead of Super Typhoon Rosal/Champi's Arrival

The Calm Before the Storm: Itbayat Island, Batanes, Ahead of Super Typhoon Rosal/Champi's Arrival

I'm on Itbayat Island in Batanes right now. The nature here gives you stillness and peace. It's 10:13 a.m. on October 21, and the weather is clear and beautiful.

I'm praying to God that Super Typhoon Champi/Rosal won't hit this place hard. We're just below Taiwan. Super Typhoon Rosal (Champi) is the strongest storm on Earth in 2026 right now, spinning fiercely over the Philippine Sea like a giant heat engine.

The residents have been getting ready for the disaster that's coming. They've brought the animals inside and reinforced their houses.

Because of the flight advisory, I can't book a flight back to Basco anymore. So we have to ride out the storm here together.