HONG KONG (AP) — Typhoon Noul is set to bring heavy rains and strong winds to southern China, including Hong Kong, over the weekend. The region remains on high alert, leading to the evacuation of thousands in Guangdong province and the cancellation of numerous flights.
The Hong Kong Observatory reported that Noul, which had maximum sustained winds of 145 kilometers per hour (90 mph) near its eye on Saturday, was steadily moving across the South China Sea and approaching the Guangdong coast.
The city’s observatory expects that Noul might make landfall on Sunday morning around the cities of Huizhou and Shanwei in southern China. It is then predicted to move inland, potentially causing showers and gusty winds in parts of the region. China’s meteorological center also anticipates that Noul will reach land in the early hours of Sunday.
According to Hong Kong’s airport website, more than 150 flights were canceled on Saturday and Sunday, with further flight disruptions possible.
As Noul approached Hong Kong, sections of scaffolding on a high-rise building collapsed on Saturday afternoon. Local police stated that initial reports indicated no injuries.
Mainland China’s authorities issued a red typhoon alert, the highest level, on Saturday night. The Hong Kong Observatory raised the storm signal to number 8, the third highest alert level in the city.
The National Meteorological Center of China forecasts intense rain and strong winds in parts of southern Guangdong and southeastern Fujian over the weekend. As of Saturday afternoon, more than 340,000 people had been evacuated from the southern province of Guangdong, according to the state broadcaster CCTV. Rail services in the province were suspended on Sunday, as reported by the China News Service.
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration noted that Noul would bring rainfall to parts of southern and eastern Taiwan. The storm was passing through waters south of Taiwan and moving away from the island on Saturday.
Earlier this month, Typhoon Bavi brought strong winds and rain to eastern China, prompting the evacuation of over two million people. It made landfall on July 11. Another typhoon, Maysak, made landfall in southern China on July 3.