ISTANBUL

About 140 flights were canceled on Wednesday on Jeju, a southern island, in South Korea because of the approaching Typhoon Khanun.

Coming from Japan towards South Korea, the strong typhoon was expected to reach the southern coasts of the country on Thursday, said the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).

At Jeju International Airport, out of the 492 flights planned for the day, 137 were canceled by 1 p.m. local time (0400GMT), Seoul-based Yonhap News reported.

Additionally, all passenger boat services to and from the island were stopped, according to maritime authorities. These services are expected to resume on Friday.

Tropical Typhoon Khanun has already engulfed southwestern Japan's Kagoshima and Kumamoto provinces and is moving in the northern direction, hitting parts of Japan with heavy winds and downpours.