Typhoon Noul drenches southern China, forces mass evacuations and flight cancellations

Typhoon Noul made landfall early Sunday in southern China, unleashing heavy rain and gale-force winds across Guangdong province and neighboring Hong Kong. The storm prompted the cancellation of flights at Hong Kong's international airport and led to widespread disruptions.

Noul, the 12th typhoon in the Pacific this year and the third to strike China this month, forced authorities in Guangdong to relocate more than 340,000 people. The province also suspended some train services on Saturday, with all services halted on Sunday. Schools in Chaozhou city were instructed to suspend on-campus activities.

As the typhoon moved inland, it began to weaken, though Hong Kong's Observatory reported that strong gales continued to affect the city. An Amber Rainstorm Warning was issued, with expectations of rain exceeding 30 mm per hour and a caution for flash floods. Hong Kong's Observatory raised the storm alert to Typhoon Signal No. 9 as the storm passed close to the city, later downgrading it to Signal No. 8, which typically keeps most businesses and transport links closed.

This event follows a month of extreme weather in southern and central China. Typhoon Maysak previously caused devastating floods in Guangxi, killing 39 people, and brought thunderstorms and winds to Hubei province, resulting in 11 deaths and 331 injuries. Scientists warn that the intensity and frequency of such extreme weather events are increasing due to global warming.