Technology and Science26 July, 20263 min read
Typhoon Noul Weakens After Landfall in Southern China, Relocates Over 801,000 in Guangdong
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Noul made landfall in Huizhou, Guangdong, bringing strong winds and heavy rain. Guangdong evacuated over 700,000 residents amid the storm.
Noul hits Guangdong
Typhoon Noul weakened to a tropical storm as it moved inland after making landfall in southern China, bringing winds and heavy rain along the coast of southern China. China’s weather authorities expected parts of southern Guangdong and southeastern Fujian provinces to experience heavy rain, and Xinhua reported that more than 801,000 people had been relocated for safety in Guangdong as of Sunday. In Hong Kong, the city’s airport authority said around 350 flights were canceled Sunday and about 2,000 passengers were stranded at the airport over the weekend, while Hong Kong authorities said at least 21 people were injured across the city during the typhoon period.
China’s Ministry of Water Resources upgraded its flood-control emergency response, including for Guangdong, over high risks of mountain floods, and the National Development and Reform Commission allocated 100 million yuan ($14.8 million) to support recovery efforts in the typhoon-hit Guangdong province. In northwestern China, a Xinhua report said at least 10 people died and 23 were injured in a flash flood on Sunday in Gansu’s Weiyuan county, where sudden heavy rainfall trapped some tourists who were camping.
Evacuations and transport
Typhoon Noul struck Huizhou in southern Guangdong province on Sunday, packing destructive winds and heavy rainfall that prompted authorities to evacuate 715,351 residents, according to the state-run Global Times.
The National Meteorological Centre issued its first red typhoon warning of the year—the highest alert level in China's four-tier system—on Saturday evening as the storm approached, the newspaper reported.
As the storm swept through the Pearl River Delta, more than 1,000 flights were grounded at airports in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong on Sunday, and authorities also cancelled over 190 cross-border high-speed rail services.
Guangdong authorities evacuated 715,351 people and imposed full or partial “five suspensions” across 12 cities, halting classes, work, production, transport, and business activities to safeguard residents, the Global Times said.
The CBC reported that China’s national weather centre said Noul made landfall along the Huidong county coast in Huizhou at approximately 3:50 a.m. Sunday, and Hong Kong’s Observatory said Noul had maximum sustained winds of 110 km/h near its centre as it moved inland and weakened progressively.
Flood risk and recovery
Authorities declared their highest alert for flash floods in several provinces as Noul forced the relocation of more than 700,000 people in Guangdong, and the Jerusalem Post said the rains were expected to persist until Tuesday.
The National Meteorological Center forecast heavy to torrential rain from Sunday until Monday morning across much of China’s south, and the Jerusalem Post said extremely heavy to exceptional downpours were expected to lash some areas including Fujian.
Hong Kong’s Observatory said Noul was weakening as it moved inland, and the Jerusalem Post reported that authorities downgraded the typhoon signal to No. 3 from No. 8 by afternoon.
The Guardian reported that Noul would dump heavy to torrential rains across much of southern China for two days after sweeping Guangdong and neighbouring Hong Kong with gale-force winds, and it said China declared its highest alert for flash floods in several provinces.
The Guardian also said Hong Kong’s airport authority reported about 350 flights were cancelled Sunday and that at least nine people were injured across the city during the typhoon period, according to authorities.