A Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) image from NASA's Terra satellite shows tropical storm Talas around 345 km (185 nautical miles) south-southwest of Kyoto on its northward journey over Japan, Sept 2, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

OSAKA - Powerful typhoon made a landfall in Shikoku Island in western Japan on Saturday, forcing more than 2, 200 people to evacuate in 12 prefectures in western to central Japan, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

As of 10 amlocal time, Talas, the season's 12th typhoon, landed in Kochi Prefecture in Shikokku Island, packing winds of up to 144 kms/h near its center, the weather agency said.

The typhoon has left one dead, three missing and at least 27 people injuried across Japan, according to a NHK report.

Because of the slow-moving nature of the typhoon, heavy rain and storms persist across a wide area of the Japanese archipelago, the weather agency said, warning of mudslides and floods.

Central Japan Railway Co. said it suspended bullet train services on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line between Gifu-Hashima and Maibara stations for about 8 minutes from around 6:55 am local time.