Super Typhoon Champi heads toward Taiwan, hundreds of flights cancelled in East Asia

Hundreds of flights have been cancelled across East Asia as the powerful Pacific storm Super Typhoon Champi advances toward Taiwan. State media reported that the number of cancelled flights has exceeded 600.

Taiwan has been placed on high alert as the storm is expected to make landfall on its coast on Friday. Winds during the storm are feared to reach speeds of up to 173 kilometres per hour.

The storm is forecast to reach as far as Japan. The BBC reported that air services in both Taiwan and Japan have been affected as the storm nears, with dozens of flights cancelled in both countries.

Taiwan has put safety measures in place in view of the storm's risk. As the storm advances, flights from various airports across East Asia have been affected.