Typhoon Noul has brought chaos to southern China and Hong Kong, forcing a massive evacuation effort with more than 715,000 people relocated in Guangdong province alone. The storm made landfall at 3:50 am on Sunday along the Huidong county coast in Huizhou, Guangdong, with winds of up to 110 km/h (68 mph) causing widespread destruction and disruption.
The impact has been severe, with train services across Guangdong halted for Sunday and hundreds of flights cancelled at Hong Kong airport. The city's airport authority announced the cancellation of around 350 flights, causing significant travel delays for thousands. Local authorities reported at least nine people sustained injuries across the city during the typhoon period.
State media, Xinhua, described Noul as the strongest typhoon to hit China so far in 2026, with CCTV footage showing numerous trees uprooted in Huilai county, a coastal area of Guangdong. The storm's trajectory also saw it pass over waters south of Taiwan, bringing rainfall to parts of southern and eastern areas of the island before moving away on Saturday.
The relocation effort is one of the largest in recent years, with communities across southern China facing significant disruption. In Hong Kong, residents are bracing themselves for further heavy rain and strong winds, with authorities warning of potential landslides and flooding in some areas.
This latest typhoon comes just weeks after Typhoon Bavi made landfall on 11 July, leading to the evacuation of over 2 million people. The region has seen a surge in typhoon activity this year, with Typhoon Maysak hitting southern China on 3 July. Authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant and follow evacuation orders as the storm continues to bring heavy rain and strong winds.