Typhoon Noul has made landfall in southern China, bringing powerful winds and heavy rain to Guangdong province and neighbouring Hong Kong. The severe weather has forced more than 715,000 people to move to safer locations as authorities prepare for possible flooding and further damage.
China’s National Meteorological Centre said Noul reached the coast of Huidong County in Huizhou, Guangdong province, at around 3:50am local time on Sunday. State media described it as the strongest typhoon to make landfall in China so far this year.
Hong Kong’s Observatory reported that the storm had maximum sustained winds of around 110 kilometres per hour near its centre. As Noul moved inland across Guangdong, the typhoon gradually weakened but continued to bring strong winds and heavy rainfall to parts of southern China.
Authorities in Guangdong had relocated more than 715,000 people by early Sunday for safety. Several areas also reported damage, with trees uprooted by strong winds in Huilai County. Officials warned that parts of southern Guangdong and southeastern Fujian could experience heavy rain and powerful winds.
The storm also disrupted travel in Hong Kong, where around 350 flights were cancelled on Sunday. Authorities said at least nine people were injured during the typhoon period. A section of scaffolding attached to a high-rise building also collapsed in the city, although no injuries were reported in that incident.
Noul also brought rainfall to parts of southern and eastern Taiwan as it passed over waters south of the island. The latest storm comes after Typhoon Bavi hit eastern China earlier this month, forcing more than two million people to evacuate, while Typhoon Maysak made landfall in southern China on July 3.
