Typhoon Noul Hits China’s Guangdong, Triggers Emergency Relief Measures

China has activated emergency relief measures after Typhoon Noul made landfall in southern Guangdong province, bringing gale-force winds and heavy rainfall to large parts of the region.

Noul, the 12th cyclone to hit China this year, struck the Guangdong coast early Sunday, prompting the National Commission for Disaster Prevention, Reduction and Relief to activate a Level-IV national disaster relief emergency response for the province. Level-IV is the lowest tier in China's four-level emergency response system, while Level-I represents the most severe level.

A working team has been deployed to the affected areas to assess the impact of the storm and support local authorities in relocating and resettling residents. Officials are also working to ensure that affected communities have access to essential supplies and basic living necessities.

The National Development and Reform Commission has allocated 100 million yuan (about USD 14.7 million) from the central budget to support post-disaster recovery in Guangdong. The funds will primarily be used to repair damaged infrastructure, including roads, water conservancy facilities, schools and hospitals, with the aim of restoring normal production and daily life as quickly as possible.

Ahead of the typhoon's arrival, China's national observatory issued a red alert, the highest level in the country's four-tier, colour-coded typhoon warning system. The alert system also includes orange, yellow and blue levels.

Emergency measures were additionally activated in Fujian, Jiangxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong and Guangxi, covering large parts of eastern, central and southern China.

In Hong Kong, authorities began emergency preparations as Noul approached. More than 410 flights and 150 high-speed train services were cancelled, while 28 temporary shelters were opened to accommodate residents seeking safety from the storm.