Taiwan cancels nearly 125 flights as Super Typhoon Champi, the year's strongest storm, bears down on the island

Champi has reached Category 5 strength for a third time, with maximum sustained winds of nearly 185mph. Taiwan's Central Weather Administration has issued sea and land warnings, and the storm is expected to hit hardest on Friday and Saturday. It sits almost 250km southeast of the northeastern county of Yilan. Typhoon-force winds reach up to 100 miles from its centre.

Champi grew from tropical storm to Category 4 strength in under 48 hours.

It passed within 10 miles of the US territory of Guam on Saturday.

Forecaster Chang cheng-Chuan expects warnings to lift on Saturday afternoon as Champi heads for Japan's Kyushu.