Bangkok: Typhoon Noeul made landfall in Guangdong Province, China, early this morning, bringing strong winds and heavy rain. The storm, which struck near Pinghai City in Huidong County of Huizhou City, recorded maximum sustained winds near its center at approximately 162 kilometers per hour. It is noted as the strongest typhoon to hit China in 2026, and the most powerful to make landfall on the east coast of the Pearl River in a decade.
According to Thai News Agency, the influence of Typhoon Noeul triggered heavy rainfall and strong winds, resulting in flash flooding across several areas. Some regions in northern and eastern Guangdong Province reportedly experienced accumulated rainfall measuring up to 400-500 millimeters. In response to the severe weather conditions, local authorities ordered the evacuation and relocation of over 715,000 individuals for safety. Major cities such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Huizhou, and Zhuhai initiated maximum control measures, including school closures, work stoppages, production halts, and the suspension of public transportation.
Furthermore, all high-speed and conventional train services in Guangdong Province faced temporary suspension on Sunday. Typhoon Noeul's impact extended to Hong Kong, where authorities elevated the storm warning to level 9 before reducing it to level 8. The city reported incidents of scaffolding collapsing and at least nine injuries. Additionally, over 350 flights at Hong Kong International Airport and those at surrounding airports in Guangzhou and Shenzhen experienced disruptions and schedule adjustments due to the adverse weather.
The China National Meteorological Administration anticipated that Typhoon Noeul would gradually weaken as it moved inland but warned of continued heavy rainfall until Tuesday. Regions potentially facing landslides, flash floods, and torrential flooding include Jiangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Henan, and Shandong provinces. The recent extreme weather events have caused significant damage in southern and central China, with a death toll of 39. Prior to Noeul, Typhoon Maysak led to massive flooding in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, resulting in 11 deaths and 331 injuries in central Hubei Province.