Powerful typhoon Guchol hits Japan

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Published time: June 19, 2012 05:57
Edited time: June 19, 2012 20:02

About 150,000 people were advised to flee as a massive typhoon reached mainland Japan, bringing heavy rain to vast areas, Kyodo news reported. Around 500 domestic flights have been cancelled.

­The tropical cyclone dubbed Typhoon Guchol tore into Japan through the western Pacific, with winds of up to 193 kilometers per hour.

At 4:00 p.m. local time, the typhoon was located around 100 km southwest of Shionomisaki in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan.

The typhoon made landfall on the tip of the Pacific peninsula of Kii, south of Osaka, shortly after 5:00 pm, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

It is now roaring northeast through central Japan with a speed of 126 km per hour near the center, and gustiness of up to 180 km per hour. After that, the typhoon is expected to blow out into the Pacific again Wednesday morning.

Locals have been warned there are risks of mudslides, flash-flooding and high waves. People are advised not to leave their homes unless vitally necessary. The agency says some areas will get as much as 40 centimeters of rain by noon on Wednesday.

Earlier the typhoon triggered heavy rains and minor landslides in the northern Philippines.

This handout image provided June 18, 2012 by NASA shows a satellite view of Typhoon Guchol (AFP Photo)

The Guchol typhoon has already caused heavy rain in the Philippines on Sunday, flooding streets and triggering small landslides in the country’s north. (AFP Photo / Ted Aljibe)

Manila, Philippines. (AFP Photo / Noel Celis)

Manila, Philippines. (AFP Photo / Ted Aljibe)

Pedestrians walk against strong winds in Osaka, western Japan on June 19, 2012 (AFP Photo / Yoshikazu Tsuno)