Typhoon Noul remnants threaten widespread flooding across southern, central China

China's southern and central regions are bracing for significant flooding as the weakened remnants of Typhoon Noul move inland. The National Meteorological Center forecasts torrential rain through Thursday in provinces including Fujian, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Henan, and Guangxi. State media highlighted the increased risk of floods and landslides due to the storm's path over mountainous areas. Noul had intensified rapidly before making landfall in Guangdong over the weekend, becoming the strongest typhoon to hit China this year.

Authorities are preparing for a dual threat of typhoon impacts and the ongoing flood season. Emergency and housing officials have ordered enhanced flood-control measures. They are also inspecting critical infrastructure and pre-deploying rescue teams and equipment to vulnerable areas. Safety checks are being conducted for key industries like mining, hazardous chemicals, and fireworks production.

Typhoons typically impact China between July and September, with August being the peak month. Meanwhile, frequent and heavy precipitation in the northwest and southwest has also put Gansu, Sichuan, and Yunnan on high alert. Gansu issued its highest warning for geological disasters, citing landslide and mudslide risks after recent rockfalls onto roads. This comes as Chinese authorities continue searching for 50 people missing after a July 17 landslide in Chongqing.

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The authorities are bracing for overlapping typhoon and flood-season risks, with emergency and housing officials ordering stronger flood-control measures, inspections of critical infrastructure and the pre-deployment of rescue teams and equipment in vulnerable areas.