Typhoon Noul has made landfall in China, and hundreds of thousands have fled | Weather News

Noul hit southern Guangdong province and neighboring Hong Kong, bringing strong winds and heavy rain to the region.

Typhoon Noul has hit southern China, including Hong Kong, bringing strong winds and heavy rain to the region and forcing thousands of people to leave Guangdong province.

China’s meteorological agency said Noul made landfall on the coast of Huidong County in Huizhou, southern Guangdong province, at around 3:50am local time on Sunday (19:50 GMT Saturday).

China’s Xinhua News Agency said Noul was the strongest typhoon to hit China this year.

The Hong Kong Observatory said Noul, with sustained winds of more than 110 kilometers per hour (68 kilometers per hour) near its center, would move into Guangdong on Sunday and gradually weaken, bringing strong winds and torrential rain to other areas.

More than 715,000 people had been evacuated to safety by Sunday in Guangdong province, according to state-run China National Radio. On Saturday, authorities said about 340,000 people had been evacuated.

China’s National Meteorological Center expects areas in southern Guangdong and southeastern Fujian to experience heavy rain and strong winds over the weekend.

Many trees were uprooted in Huilai province, which is located on the coast of Guangdong, state broadcaster CCTV said.

Hong Kong airport authorities said around 350 flights were canceled on Sunday. At least nine people were injured across the city during the storm, according to Hong Kong officials.

As Noul approached Hong Kong, parts of the main scaffolding on the main building collapsed on Saturday afternoon, local police said, although initial reports indicated no injuries.

Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration said Noul is bringing rain to the southern and eastern parts of Taiwan. It was passing through waters south of Taiwan and was leaving the island on Saturday.

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