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HONG KONG: Typhoon Noul weakened into a tropical storm on Sunday after making landfall along southern China’s coast, but continued to bring torrential rainfall, strong winds and flooding risks across Guangdong and Fujian provinces, prompting large-scale evacuations and emergency response measures.
Chinese authorities said more than 801,000 residents had been relocated to safer areas in Guangdong Province as heavy rain and flash flood threats persisted. The Ministry of Water Resources upgraded its flood-control emergency response, warning of heightened risks of mountain floods and landslides in affected regions.
The storm also caused significant disruption in Hong Kong, where approximately 350 flights were canceled, leaving around 2,000 passengers stranded over the weekend. Authorities reported that at least 21 people sustained minor injuries during the typhoon, while emergency crews responded to incidents involving fallen trees and damaged infrastructure.
China’s National Development and Reform Commission announced an allocation of 100 million yuan (approximately US$14.8 million) to support emergency relief and recovery efforts in Guangdong Province. Officials said the funds would help restore infrastructure and assist communities affected by the storm.
According to Chinese state media, Typhoon Noul is the strongest typhoon to make landfall in China this year and the third typhoon to strike the country within a month, following Typhoons Bavi and Maysak. Although the storm has weakened after moving inland, meteorological authorities warned that heavy rainfall is expected to continue in parts of southern China over the coming days.
Before reaching China, Typhoon Noul affected the Philippines, where flooding and heavy rain claimed at least three lives, while the storm also brought significant rainfall to parts of Taiwan as it tracked through the region.
