Southern China woke up in shock from a phenomenon that displaced a population larger than many European capitals. Typhoon Noul, the most powerful to hit the country since the beginning of 2026, has led to the preventive evacuation of over 801,000 people in Guangdong province. In Hong Kong, around 350 flights were canceled on Sunday, and approximately 2,000 travelers found themselves stranded at the airport over the weekend.
Noul weakened to a tropical storm after making landfall, but the danger did not dissipate with the decrease in wind speed. Chinese authorities are now monitoring intense rainfall, flash floods, and possible landslides in a densely populated, industrial region that is essential to global trade. At least 21 people were injured in Hong Kong during the system’s passage, according to local authorities cited by the Associated Press.
801,000 Displaced in Guangdong
The evacuation toll quickly rose. Initial reports indicated that over 715,000 residents were sheltered. By Sunday, the official Xinhua agency, as reported by the Associated Press, raised this figure to over 801,000 people relocated in Guangdong. This increase reflects the scale of mobilization in China’s most populous province, home to more than 120 million residents.
Noul made landfall around 3:50 AM Sunday on the coast of Huidong County, in Huizhou City. Before moving inland, it carried sustained winds of up to approximately 110 km/h near its center as it passed close to Hong Kong. Chinese state media presented it as the strongest typhoon to reach the country this year.
The evacuation figures do not imply that all homes were destroyed. They primarily reflect a preventive strategy: moving residents away from coastlines, low-lying areas, construction sites, fragile housing, and flood-prone sectors before communications or roads become impassable. In cyclone episodes, this foresight can make the difference between massive disruption and human catastrophe.
Hong Kong Cut Off from the Sky Over the Weekend
In Hong Kong, the most visible impact was concentrated on transportation. The airport authority recorded approximately 350 flights canceled on Sunday, while around 2,000 passengers had to wait at the airport over the weekend. Images broadcast from the city showed rain-lashed streets, uprooted trees, and travelers waiting for services to resume.
The Hong Kong Observatory had raised the typhoon signal number 9, one of the highest alert levels in the territory, before lowering it to level 8 and continuing to reduce warnings as Noul moved away. The system passed about 80 kilometers northeast of the city, according to the South China Morning Post. This relatively short distance was enough to expose the territory to strong winds and heavy rainfall.
Hong Kong has buildings, alert protocols, and infrastructure designed to withstand tropical storms. However, the closure of part of its air traffic underscores the vulnerability of a global hub when the weather imposes a sudden halt. Each cancellation reverberates through connections in Asia, crew schedules, freight, and international airline programs.
Winds Diminish, but Flood Risk Rises
Once on land, a typhoon typically loses power due to the lack of continuous supply of oceanic heat and moisture. Noul was thus downgraded to a tropical storm on Sunday. This development is reassuring for areas directly exposed to the wind, but it can create a false impression of the end of the crisis.
The Chinese Ministry of Water Resources has raised its emergency response level due to the risk of flooding, particularly in Guangdong. Forecasts still predicted significant rainfall in southern Guangdong and southeastern Fujian. On saturated soils, water can quickly swell rivers, isolate villages, and trigger mudslides in mountainous areas.
The central government has allocated 100 million yuan, approximately 14.8 million dollars, to support relief and reconstruction operations in Guangdong. This funding is intended to assist initial interventions, but the final cost will depend on the damage to housing, roads, power networks, agricultural operations, and industrial sites.
An Industrial Corridor at the Heart of Global Trade
Guangdong is not a peripheral region. It houses major economic hubs such as Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Dongguan, and Huizhou, at the heart of the Greater Bay Area, which also includes Hong Kong and Macao. Electronics, automotive, telecommunications, textiles, and logistics are deeply integrated into global value chains.
At this stage, no widespread industrial disruptions have been reported. Therefore, it would be excessive to predict a global supply shock. However, the halt in transportation, the preventive closure of sites, and traffic difficulties can cause localized delays. For international businesses, Noul serves as a reminder that a regional weather event can quickly become a global logistical issue.
The stakes are also financial. Hong Kong remains a major banking and stock market hub, as well as an air gateway to southern China. Even when markets and services quickly resume, companies must absorb the costs of cancellations, repositioning aircraft, and accommodating passengers.
The Third Chinese Typhoon in Less Than a Month
Noul is the third typhoon to hit China in the span of a month, following Bavi and Maysak, according to the Associated Press. This tight succession increases the fatigue of relief services and can weaken infrastructures or soils that have not had time to return to normal.
The phenomenon had already caused human damage before arriving in China. In the Philippines, at least three people died, and many others were displaced due to the rains and flooding associated with Noul. Taiwan also experienced heavy rainfall during the system’s passage south of the island.
It is impossible to attribute an isolated typhoon to climate change without specific scientific analysis. However, researchers emphasize that a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, and a warmer ocean provides more energy to cyclones. The significant trend for Asian cities is thus one of compounded risk: winds, extreme rains, inundation, heat, and economic disruptions can mutually reinforce each other.
A Signal That Asia and the World Cannot Ignore
The power of Noul is measured not only by its gusts but by the size of the society it forced to stop. Over 801,000 displaced people, hundreds of canceled flights, injuries in Hong Kong, and a flood alert extended to several provinces: the typhoon struck one of the most connected urban and economic spaces on the planet.
The coming hours will be crucial. The heart of the system continues to weaken, but the rains can still produce the most lasting damage. The priority now shifts from protection against winds to monitoring rivers, terrains, and transport networks. For residents and businesses alike, the return to normalcy will depend less on the disappearance of the name Noul from maps than on how quickly the waters can recede.
Reliable and Recent Sources
- Associated Press â updated toll: 801,000 evacuated, 350 flights canceled, 21 injured, and emergency aid, July 26, 2026
- Channel News Asia â Noul’s arrival in southern China and disruptions in Hong Kong, July 26, 2026
- South China Morning Post â trajectory near Hong Kong and alert signal updates, July 26, 2026
- China.org.cn / Xinhua â red alert and preparations in Guangdong, July 26, 2026
