Typhoon Noul hits southern China as more than 700,000 evacuate, flights canceled

Typhoon Noul made landfall early Sunday local time and was bringing winds and heavy rain to southern China, including Hong Kong, over the weekend. It prompted the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people in Guangdong province, with the region on high alert and dozens of flights canceled.

Hong Kong's Observatory said Noul, which had intensified with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph near its center, was moving on Saturday across the South China Sea and edging closer toward the coast of Guangdong.

China's national weather center said Noul made landfall along the coast of Huidong county of the city of Huizhou in the southern Guangdong province at approximately 3:50 a.m. local time on Sunday.

Hong Kong's Observatory said Noul, with maximum sustained winds of 68 mph near its center, was moving Sunday into inland Guangdong and weakening progressively, bringing strong winds and heavy rain to parts of the region.

More than 715,000 people had been relocated for safety in Guangdong province, according to state-owned China National Radio. Train services in the province were canceled for Sunday, according to the China News Service.

China's National Meteorological Center expected parts of southern Guangdong and southeastern Fujian provinces to experience heavy rain and strong winds over the weekend.

Hong Kong airport's website showed more than 350 flights had been canceled for Saturday and Sunday, with more flights facing possible cancellations.

As Noul approached Hong Kong, parts of a large scaffolding on a high-rise building collapsed Saturday afternoon, local police said, adding that initial reports indicated there were no injuries.

Taiwan's Central Weather Administration said Noul was bringing rainfall to parts of southern and eastern Taiwan. It was passing over waters south of Taiwan, and was moving away from the island Saturday.

Earlier this month, Typhoon Bavi brought strong winds and rain to eastern China, leading to the evacuation of more than 2 million people. It made landfall on July 11. Another, Maysak, made landfall in southern China on July 3.