More than 340,000 people have been evacuated across southern China as Typhoon Noul approaches Guangdong province, prompting widespread transport disruptions, business closures and flight cancellations.
China’s National Meteorological Center said the powerful storm is expected to make landfall along the coast between Shenzhen and Haifeng early Sunday.
Authorities issued the highest-level red typhoon alert on Saturday night, warning that Guangdong, Hunan, Fujian and Jiangxi provinces could experience torrential rain from Saturday through Sunday.
The typhoon is forecast to make landfall with maximum sustained winds of between 151 and 173 kilometres per hour (94 to 107 mph).
State media reported that more than 340,000 residents have been evacuated from Guangdong as precautionary measures intensified.
Twelve cities, including Guangzhou, Dongguan and Shantou, suspended classes, work, business activities and parts of their transport services ahead of the storm.
Rail services across Guangdong have also been suspended for Sunday, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
In Hong Kong, authorities issued the city’s third-highest typhoon warning and opened 28 temporary shelters for residents.
The Hong Kong Observatory warned that winds would strengthen significantly overnight and said it could raise the warning to the second-highest level on Sunday.
The city’s airport authority confirmed that at least 49 flights had been cancelled and 238 delayed, warning that more disruptions were expected.
Cathay Pacific also cancelled all flights arriving at and departing from Hong Kong International Airport between 1:15 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. local time on Sunday, adding that a limited number of flights would resume once weather conditions improve.
Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport said airlines would adjust flight schedules on Sunday depending on weather conditions.
Meteorologists described Typhoon Noul as a high-risk weather system capable of travelling far inland, bringing prolonged heavy rainfall and increasing the likelihood of flooding and other disasters.
Authorities upgraded Guangdong’s emergency response for flood and typhoon control to Level Three, while flood emergency measures were also activated in Jiangxi and Hunan provinces.
The storm comes weeks after Typhoon Maysak triggered severe flooding in southern and central China, killing 39 people in Guangxi. The earlier storm also brought thunderstorms and strong winds to Hubei province, where 11 people died and more than 330 others were injured.
Scientists have warned that climate change driven by fossil fuel emissions is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events worldwide. China, the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 while expanding its renewable energy capacity.
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