国际英语新闻:Powerful typhoon makes landfall on Japan's Shikoku island

OSAKA, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Typhoon Guchol made landfall in Japan's southwestern Wakayama Prefecture Tuesday afternoon, bringing torrential rains to a wide area.

As of 5 p.m. local time, the season's fourth typhoon, with an atmospheric pressure of 965 hectopascals at its center, was located around 30 km west-southwest of Cape Shiono in Wakayama, traveling northeast at a speed of 65 kph with a maximum wind velocity of 126 kph around its center, Japan's Meteorological Agency said.

Transportation across the country was disrupted, with over 400 flights canceled and some services on West Japan Railway Co. suspended.

In some areas in western and eastern Japan, local governments issued evacuation orders, affecting thousands of people.

Rainfall over the 24-hour period through Wednesday evening is expected to reach 400 millimeters in the Tokai region, 250 mm around Tokyo and in the Tohoku region, and 180 mm in the Kinki region, the agency said.