China typhoon Noul kills 10, forces 7.15 lakh evacuations in Guangdong

A flash flood in Gansu killed 10 people while Typhoon Noul slammed into Guangdong, triggering mass evacuations and transport cancellations. The twin disasters prompted a top typhoon alert, nationwide relief measures and fresh concern over extreme weather in China.Stock photo used for illustrationTen people were killed and 32 others injured in China on Sunday as heavy rain and Typhoon Noul caused widespread disruption, with authorities carrying out rescue work and large-scale evacuations. The deaths were reported in a flash flood in Gansu, while the typhoon made landfall in Guangdong, bringing strong winds and heavy rain to southern China.Typhoon Noul, described as the strongest typhoon to hit China this year, forced the evacuation of 715,351 people in Guangdong and led to major transport disruptions, including the cancellation of more than 700 flights in Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Emergency response measures were activated in several provinces, while funds were released to support recovery work.A flash flood triggered by sudden heavy rainfall struck a scenic area in Weiyuan County in Dingxi City on Sunday afternoon, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The flood left 10 people dead and 23 injured. Local authorities said some tourists were camping in the scenic area and became trapped after the flood broke out.A total of 305 rescue personnel with 68 vehicles from the national comprehensive fire and rescue teams were conducting rescue operations at the site, the report said. Meanwhile, Typhoon Noul, the 12th typhoon of the year, made landfall in Huidong County in Guangdong on Sunday morning. Maximum sustained winds near its centre reached 45 metres per second. CCTV said it was the first typhoon to hit Guangdong this year and the strongest to make landfall in China so far in 2026, surpassing typhoons Maysak and Bavi.The typhoon later weakened to a severe tropical storm by 10 am on Sunday as it moved inland, but it was still expected to bring heavy rainfall. The National Meteorological Centre had issued its first red alert for a typhoon this year on Saturday evening, before downgrading it to orange and later to yellow on Sunday as the storm weakened. Before landfall, China's national observatory had issued a red alert, the highest level in the country's four-tier colour-coded typhoon warning system, followed by orange, yellow and blue. High-speed rail services and flights across Guangdong were cancelled on Sunday after the typhoon made landfall and brought heavy rain to large parts of southern China. The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported that the storm packed winds of up to 162 kilometres per hour, slightly stronger than Typhoon Bavi, which hit eastern and northeastern China about two weeks ago.China's National Commission for Disaster Prevention, Reduction and Relief activated a Level-IV national disaster relief emergency response for Guangdong. Level IV is the least severe tier in the country's four-tier emergency response system, while Level I is the most critical. A working team was sent to the affected areas to assess the situation, help local authorities relocate and resettle residents, and ensure their basic living needs.Emergency measures were also activated in Fujian, Jiangxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong and Guangxi, covering large parts of eastern, central and southern China. The National Development and Reform Commission allocated 100 million yuan from the central budget to support post-disaster recovery efforts in Guangdong. The funds will mainly be used to restore damaged infrastructure, including roads, water conservancy facilities, schools and hospitals, to help resume normal production and daily life as early as possible.In Hong Kong, authorities put emergency measures in place on Saturday as the typhoon approached. More than 410 flights and 150 high-speed train services were cancelled, while the Home Affairs Department opened 28 temporary shelters. Overall, the day saw deadly flooding in Gansu and widespread disruption in the south as Typhoon Noul moved through the region.With PTI Inputs- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Jul 26, 2026 20:08 IST