China evacuates 20,000 as Typhoon Noul nears coast

Southern China braced for Typhoon Noul as authorities evacuated more than 20,000 people and halted railway services. The National Meteorological Center issued an orange typhoon alert, warning of torrential rain and gale-force winds as the storm approached landfall between Saturday evening and Sunday morning in the coastal area from Hong Kong to Guangdong province.

Guangdong province saw over 20,000 people evacuated, with fishing vessels ordered back to port. The province planned to suspend some train services on Saturday and all services on Sunday. Schools in Chaozhou city were instructed to suspend on-campus activities.

This comes after recent typhoons wreaked havoc on southern and central China. Typhoon Maysak triggered devastating floods in Guangxi, killing 39 people, and caused thunderstorms and winds in Hubei that killed 11 and injured 331. Scientists warn that global extreme weather events are increasing in intensity and frequency due to climate change.