China evacuates 340,000 as Typhoon Noul hits Guangdong

Authorities evacuated more than 340,000 people and suspended work, classes, and rail services as Typhoon Noul approached southern China, with Hong Kong's airport cancelling at least 49 flights.

The typhoon is forecast to make landfall along the coast between Shenzhen and Haifeng in Guangdong province early Sunday, China's National Meteorological Center said. The center issued a red typhoon alert Saturday night, the highest in its four-tier system.

Parts of Guangdong and neighboring Hunan, Fujian, and Jiangxi provinces are set to receive heavy rainfall through Sunday night, the center said. At landfall, Noul is forecast to have maximum sustained winds of 151-173 kilometers per hour.

Twelve cities across Guangdong, including Guangzhou, Dongguan, and Shantou, suspended classes, work, production, business operations, and transportation either fully or partially, according to state news agency Xinhua. All train services in the province will be halted Sunday, state broadcaster CCTV said.

Hong Kong issued its third-highest typhoon warning Saturday night, and local authorities opened 28 temporary shelters. The Hong Kong Observatory said it would consider raising the warning to the second-highest level early Sunday. "Local winds will strengthen significantly overnight," it said.

Hong Kong's airport authority said at least 49 flights were cancelled and 238 delayed, with more expected to be affected Sunday. Cathay Pacific cancelled all flights scheduled to arrive and depart Hong Kong International Airport between 1:15 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. local time Sunday. "A small number of other flights will be delayed as we set up our flying plan to resume once the typhoon passes," the airline said.

Guangdong's Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport said airlines would adjust flight schedules from Sunday morning to around midday depending on weather conditions.

CCTV quoted meteorologists describing Noul as "characterised by deep inland penetration, a prolonged duration, heavy cumulative rainfall, a path traversing complex terrain, and a high risk of causing disasters."

Authorities upgraded Guangdong's emergency response for flood and typhoon control to the third level in its four-tier system Saturday afternoon, Xinhua reported. A level-four flood emergency response for Jiangxi and Hunan was also activated.

Extreme weather has already hit southern and central China this month. Typhoon Maysak triggered devastating floods in Guangxi that killed 39 people, and caused thunderstorms and gale-force winds that killed 11 and injured 331 in the central province of Hubei.

Scientists warn the intensity and frequency of global extreme weather events will increase as the planet continues to heat up from fossil fuel emissions. China is the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases but also a global renewable energy powerhouse that aims to make its economy carbon neutral by 2060.