Typhoon "Noul" hits southern China – authorities evacuate more than 340,000 people

The Chinese authorities had already responded with large-scale evacuations beforehand. More than 340,000 people in the south of the country were brought to safety. Due to the immediate threat posed by the typhoon, authorities also issued the highest typhoon warning level, Red. The Hong Kong weather authority stated: "Noul zieht stetig ins Binnenland von Guangdong und schwächt sich nach und nach ab, aber Sturmböen treffen weiterhin viele Gebiete in Hongkong, mit gelegentlichen Orkanböen in höheren Lagen". A typhoon warning was also issued in Hong Kong.

Footage released by CCTV showed lashing winds and heavy rainfall. Streets were littered with debris. The effects of the storm were also directly felt in Hong Kong: the city's government reported that nine people had been injured. It also said it had received over 100 reports of fallen trees. The weather authority urged the public to stay away from the coast and to avoid unnecessary trips.

Threat to Further Inland Provinces

According to CCTV, "Noul" will continue to move inland and bring strong wind and rain to the provinces of Jiangxi, Hunan, and Hubei. The rainfall caused by the typhoon could last until Tuesday, including in more northern provinces such as Henan and Shandong. In total, seven Chinese administrative regions are directly or indirectly affected by the outer bands of the storm.

Restrictions on Air and Travel

Air travel was significantly affected by the typhoon. At Hong Kong's airport, at least 49 flights were canceled on Saturday, according to the airport operator, with more than 230 flights delayed. On Sunday, the day of landfall, at least 350 flights to and from Hong Kong were canceled at the city's airport. Airports on the Chinese mainland also reported cancellations and delays.

Cluster of Severe Storms in China This Summer

The storm is not the first severe weather event to hit China this summer. In mid-July, Typhoon "Bavi" had already hit China's east coast and caused severe damage. At that time, almost two million people had to be brought to safety. Earlier in July, the tropical cyclone "Maysak" had claimed numerous lives: 39 people died in the province of Guangxi, and eleven people in the province of Hubei.

Climate Change as a Contributing Factor

According to researchers, human-induced climate change is the background factor behind the cluster of severe storms. According to researchers, human-induced climate change is leading to more frequent and more intense extreme weather events. The Chinese authorities also stress that preparations for upcoming cyclones must be adapted to the changed conditions.

Outlook: Further Gusts and Ongoing Rescue Operations

It is still unclear how high the damage from "Noul" will ultimately be. Rescue services and local administrations remained deployed on Sunday evening (local time) to care for trapped residents and secure damaged infrastructure. The Hong Kong weather authority warned that further gusts were possible at night.

The Chinese government announced that it would continue to closely monitor the situation in the affected provinces. Should the typhoon remain on its forecasted track and continue moving inland, the warning level could be lowered in some regions on Monday. Until then, increased caution and staying indoors as much as possible apply to millions of people in southern and central China.