Typhoon Noul Forces Mass Evacuations in Southern China
Typhoon Noul battered southern China and Hong Kong overnight, bringing fierce winds and torrential rain and forcing the evacuation of more than 700,000 people. Hundreds of flights were cancelled and coastal defences tested as the storm made landfall. Authorities across Guangdong and neighbouring provinces suspended work, schools and transport.
Hong Kong raised its storm-warning signals and shut its markets and public transport as Noul swept in from the South China Sea, part of an unusually active typhoon season. Mass pre-emptive evacuations along the mainland coast are a hallmark of China’s disaster response, credited with keeping casualties low. Forecasters warned of flooding and landslides as the system moved inland. The disruption is a reminder of the mounting toll of extreme weather across Asia this summer. Watch the storm’s inland track and any reports of casualties or serious damage.