Typhoon Noul in China: over 801,000 people have been evacuated

Typhoon «Noul» made landfall on Sunday along the coast of Huidong County in the Chinese province of Guangdong, bringing strong winds and heavy rain. According to the latest figures from state media, more than 801,000 people have been evacuated from high-risk areas. In Hong Kong, around 350 flights were cancelled, whilst the Hong Kong Observatory reported that the storm was gradually weakening over the province’s inland areas.

Evacuation and transport restrictions

Typhoon «Noul» (also known as «Hongxia») has become the most powerful by a typhoon, … which made landfall in China since the start of the year. It is the 12th tropical cyclone of the year and the third to reach China in July. Ahead of its approach, the National Meteorological Centre of the People’s Republic of China issued the highest, red-level typhoon warning.

In Guangdong, it was initially reported that more than 715,000 people had been evacuated to safety; later, the figure rose to over 801,000. Rail services in the province were suspended on Sunday. The Chinese authorities have also declared the highest alert level due to flash floods in several provinces.

Hong Kong is gradually resuming air services

In Hong Kong, Noul was accompanied by gale-force winds. According to the observatory, the maximum sustained wind speed near the centre of the system reached 155 km/h at 02:00 on 26 July. Later that day, the warning signal was downgraded from No. 8 to No. 3 as the storm began to weaken.

Hong Kong Airport has cancelled around 350 flights. Following a de facto suspension of most flights lasting more than 12 hours, services began to resume gradually; around two thousand passengers were stranded at the airport due to the disruption. The authorities reported at least 21 people injured during the typhoon.

On Saturday, as Noul was approaching the city, part of a large scaffolding structure collapsed on a high-rise building. The police noted that, according to initial reports, no one was injured in the incident.

The downpours are moving inland

As of 16:00 local time on 26 July, Noul had already been classified as a tropical storm and was located approximately 170 km north of Hong Kong. Sustained wind speeds near the centre were 85 km/h. The Hong Kong Observatory expects the system to weaken into a low-pressure area on 27 July.

The fact that the wind has died down does not mean the threat is over. The National Meteorological Centre of the People’s Republic of China has forecast heavy and torrential rainfall across most of the south of the country until Monday morning, and the rain may continue until Tuesday. The heaviest rainfall is expected, in particular, in southern Guangdong and south-eastern Fujian.

The cyclone’s moisture is then expected to spread to Jiangxi and Hunan. Local authorities have been instructed to pay particular attention to mountainous and riverine areas, construction sites, valleys and bridges — areas at increased risk of flash floods and landslides. In Huilai County on the Guangdong coast, according to CCTV, the wind has toppled many trees.

Funds for reconstruction and the series of July storms

The State Commission for Development and Reform of the People’s Republic of China has allocated 100 million yuan to Guangdong for reconstruction work. However, there is currently no consolidated official tally of material damage, fatalities or people missing in Guangdong and Hong Kong specifically.

Noul was the third typhoon to hit China in July. Earlier, Typhoon Bavi made landfall on 11 July in the east of the country, leading to the evacuation of over two million people, whilst Maysak reached southern China on 3 July. The current situation suggests that, following the strong winds, the main challenge for the areas affected by Noul may be prolonged rainfall and localised flooding.