China evacuates 340,000 people as Typhoon Noul approaches

Southern China is bracing for the impact of Typhoon Noul, with authorities evacuating over 340,000 people from Guangdong province. The typhoon is forecast to make landfall early Sunday between Shenzhen and Haifeng, carrying maximum sustained winds of 151-173 kilometers per hour.

In response to the impending storm, work and rail services have been suspended across Guangdong. Twelve cities, including Guangzhou and Dongguan, have halted classes, production, and business operations. Flight schedules are also significantly affected, with Hong Kong's airport reporting at least 49 flight cancellations and numerous delays.

The Chinese National Meteorological Center has issued a red typhoon alert, the highest level, warning of a high risk of disaster due to the storm's deep inland penetration, prolonged duration, heavy cumulative rainfall, and passage through complex terrain. This comes after recent devastating floods in Guangxi caused by Typhoon Maysak, which killed 39 people, and thunderstorms in Hubei that resulted in 11 fatalities.