Typhoon Noul struck southern China on Sunday morning, bringing destructive winds and heavy rain to a region already braced for its arrival. More than 700,000 people were evacuated ahead of the storm's landfall, with authorities declaring the highest alert levels across several provinces. State media described Noul as the strongest typhoon to make landfall in China so far in 2026.

Wind speeds of up to 162 kilometres per hour were recorded as the storm moved inland. The typhoon is the twelfth to hit China this year and the third within the current month alone, underscoring an unusually active season for the region. Authorities warned of exceptionally heavy rainfall continuing through Tuesday, though the storm is expected to weaken gradually as it pushes further inland.

Hong Kong, the densely populated special administrative region on China's southern coast, bore significant disruption. Around 360 passenger flights were cancelled at Hong Kong airport, and train services across the wider region were suspended. Injuries were reported in the city, along with damage caused by falling trees. Dramatic scenes emerged of multi-storey scaffolding collapsing along Cheung Sha Wan Road in powerful gusts on Saturday; police received numerous calls about the incident, though no injuries were reported in that case.

Flood risks remain a serious concern as the storm continues to deposit large volumes of rain across affected areas. Emergency services are on high alert, and residents in vulnerable low-lying areas have been urged to stay indoors.

Why this matters: Southern China and Hong Kong are no strangers to typhoon season, which typically runs from May to November, but the intensity and frequency of storms this year have placed sustained pressure on emergency infrastructure and millions of lives. Noul's arrival so soon after previous storms leaves communities with little time to recover, and the threat of flooding in the days ahead means the humanitarian situation could deteriorate further before conditions improve.