China evacuates 800,000 people in east in anticipation of Typhoon Chan-hom

China is bracing up for a powerful typhoon, as more than 800,000 people have been evacuated from the nation's eastern coastal regions.

According to the BBC, Chan-hom is likely to make landfall in southern Shanghai later in the day.

Around 400 flights have already been cancelled, as winds have been recorded at up to 187 km per hour.

At least five people have died in the storm that hit Philippines earlier this week. Several people were injured in Taiwan and Japan as well in the storm.

Chan-hom could be the worst typhoon to strike the area since 1949, said Chinese National Meteorological Centre.