Typhoon Noul Threatens Southern China with Heavy Rain and Winds

HONG KONG (AP) — Typhoon Noul is set to bring heavy rains and winds to southern China, including Hong Kong, over the weekend. This has led to heightened alerts in the region and the evacuation of thousands in Guangdong province. Additionally, numerous flights have been canceled.

The Hong Kong Observatory reported that Noul, with maximum sustained winds of 145 kilometers per hour (90 mph) near its center, was moving steadily across the South China Sea and approaching Guangdong’s coast.

Forecasts from the city’s observatory indicate that Noul may make landfall on Sunday morning near Huizhou and Shanwei cities in southern China. As it moves inland, it could unleash showers and gusts across parts of the region. China’s national weather centre expects Noul to reach land by early Sunday.

The Hong Kong airport’s website showed over 150 flights were canceled for Saturday and Sunday, with more potential cancellations looming.

As Noul advanced towards Hong Kong, part of a scaffold on a high-rise building collapsed on Saturday afternoon. Local police confirmed that initial reports indicated no injuries.

Mainland Chinese authorities issued a top-level red typhoon alert on Saturday night. Concurrently, the Hong Kong Observatory raised the storm signal to number 8, the third-highest in the city’s alert system.

The National Meteorological Center of China forecasts heavy rain and strong winds for some areas in southern Guangdong and southeastern Fujian over the weekend. By Saturday afternoon, over 340,000 people had been evacuated in southern Guangdong, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Train services in the province were canceled on Sunday, reported China’s news service.

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau stated that Noul would bring rain to parts of southern and eastern Taiwan. The storm was south of Taiwan’s waters and leaving the island by Saturday.

Earlier this month, Typhoon Bavi brought strong winds and rain to eastern China, prompting the evacuation of more than two million people. It made landfall on July 11. Another storm, Maysak, landed in southern China on July 3.

This story was translated from English by an AP editor with assistance from a generative AI tool.