Typhoon Noul made landfall in southern China early Sunday, bringing 145 kph winds to the Guangdong coast. The storm triggered massive evacuations and significant travel disruptions across Hong Kong and mainland China.
A relentless summer of storms following Bavi and Maysak
The arrival of Typhoon Noul marks the third major weather event to strike the region in less than a month. This pattern of intense tropical activity follows Typhoon Maysak, which hit southern China on July 3, and Typhoon Bavi, which made landfall on July 11. According to the report, Bavi was particularly destructive, leading to the evacuation of more than 2 million people in eastern China.
This sequence of storms suggests a highly volatile summer season for the South China Sea. As these weather systems move through the region, they place repetitive and compounding stress on local emergency services and infrastructure. The frequency of these landfalls highlights a period of heightened risk for residents across Guangdong and Fujian provinces.
340,000 evacuations and 150 canceled flights
Massive logistical operations are underway in Guangdong province to manage the displacement of hundreds of thousands of residents. As reported by state broadcaster CCTV, more than 340,000 people had been relocated for safety by Saturday afternoon. These evacuations were part of a high-alert response to the approaching storm's wind and rain.
The aviation and transit sectors have also faced significant disruptions due to the storm's intensity. The Hong Kong airport website showed that more than 150 flihgts were canceled for the Saturday and Sunday period. Additionally, train services throughout Guangdong province were canceled for Sunday, according to the China News Service,further complicating movement within the region.
From Huidong's coast to the inland Guangdong plains
The storm's center hit Huidong county in the city of Huizhou at approximately 3:50 a.m. local time on Sunday. The Hong Kong Observatory said that Noul, which maintains maximum sustained winds of 145 kph (90 mph) near its center, was moving into inland Guangdong and weakening progressively. Despite this weakening,the storm continues to bring heavy rain and strong winds to the area.
Taiwan has also felt the effects of the storm's trajectory. taiwan’s Central Weather Administration said that Noul was bringing rainfall to parts of southern and eastern Taiwan as it passed over waters south of the island.. While the storm is moving away from Taiwan, the moisture and wind patterns continue to impact the surrounding maritime region.
The mystery of the collapsed Hong Kong scaffolding
Structural damage has alreeady been observed in urban areas as the storm approached Hong Kong. Local police reported that a large section of scaffolding on a high-rise building collapsed on Saturday afternoon. While initial reports indicated there were no injuries, the incident has raised concerns about the stabilty of other urban structures during high-wind events.
Several questions remain regarding the specific cause of the scaffolding failure and the potential for further damage. it is currently unverified whether the collapse was caused by a specific gust of wind or a structural weakness in the building's exterior.. Furthermore, authorities have not yet clarified if other high-rise construction sites in Hong Kong are under similar threat from the ongoing heavy rain and wind.
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