China on high alert as Typhoon Noul makes landfall, over 750,000 evacuated

China issued its highest red alert for Typhoon Noul as it made landfall early Sunday in the southeastern province of Guangdong. Winds reached over 160 kilometers per hour, prompting the precautionary evacuation of more than 750,000 people.

The National Meteorological Center (NMC) reported that Noul touched down around 3:50 a.m. local time in Pinghai. It is expected to move north-northwest at 10 to 15 km/h and weaken quickly. By Sunday afternoon, forecasts predicted it would degrade to a severe tropical storm with winds around 110 km/h.

Authorities had taken extensive precautions, relocating over 715,000 people and providing shelter for hundreds of vessels. Seven provinces were placed under close watch for potential flooding until Monday morning. Although the typhoon alert was later downgraded to orange, the second-highest level, the red alert for torrential rain remained in effect for Guangdong and parts of Fujian, Jiangxi, and Hunan provinces, with rainfall potentially reaching 250 to 500 millimeters.

In Hong Kong, the meteorological observatory raised its alert to the second-highest level. The typhoon caused at least nine injuries and led to the cancellation of approximately 700 flights and nearly 200 train services. China has allocated 100 million yuan (approximately $14.8 million) for post-typhoon recovery efforts, prioritizing the repair of damaged infrastructure, hospitals, and schools.

Noul is the twelfth typhoon of the season in the Pacific and the most powerful to hit China in 2026. It follows Typhoon Bavi, which caused 135 injuries in Taiwan and prompted evacuations for over 1.7 million people in China's Zhejiang province less than two weeks prior. Typhoons are common in southeastern China and Taiwan during the summer and autumn, often causing significant damage and disrupting economic activity.