Typhoon Noul, the most powerful typhoon to hit China since the beginning of the year, reached the south of the country early Sunday morning, bringing strong winds and heavy rain. More than 715,000 people were evacuated from their homes in Guangdong province, hundreds of flights were canceled and authorities issued the highest flash-flood alert in several provinces.
The typhoon, the 12th tropical storm of the year and the third to strike China this month, made landfall near Huidong County at 3:50 a.m. local time. Its name, "Noul," means "the glow of sunrise or sunset" in Korean.
According to forecasts, the storm was expected to continue moving inland, bringing strong winds and torrential rain to Jiangxi and Hunan provinces. China's National Meteorological Center warned of heavy to exceptionally heavy rainfall across the south of the country, which was expected to continue at least through Tuesday. Particularly intense downpours were forecast in Fujian province. Authorities urged local governments to raise their level of preparedness in flood-prone areas, including mountainous regions, riverbanks, valleys, bridges and construction sites.
Hong Kong was also affected by the typhoon. The local weather service said Noul, which had sustained winds of up to 110 kph (68 mph) near its center, gradually weakened after moving inland over Guangdong province.
The Hong Kong Airport Authority said about 350 flights were canceled on Sunday, with least nine people injured during the storm, and authorities said flights were expected to resume gradually beginning in the afternoon. Before the typhoon struck, part of the scaffolding installed on a high-rise building in the city collapsed. Police said no one was injured in the incident.
The storm's effects were also felt in Taiwan, where it brought rain to parts of the island's south and east before moving away from the area.
Earlier this month, Typhoon Bavi struck eastern China, prompting the evacuation of more than 2 million people after making landfall on July 11. Another typhoon, Maysak, hit southern China on July 3.
