China declares highest flash flood alert as Typhoon Noul hits land, forces thousands to relocate

China issued its highest flash flood alert as Typhoon Noul, the year's strongest storm, made landfall in Guangdong, forcing over 700,000 people to relocate. The typhoon brought gale-force winds and torrential rain to southern China, including Hong Kong, with heavy downpours expected to persist until Tuesday.

China declared its highest flash flood alert as Typhoon Noul, the year's strongest typhoon, made landfall in southern China on Sunday, July 26, 2026. The storm struck the coast of Huidong County in Guangdong province at 3:50 a.m., forcing the relocation of more than 700,000 people. Noul, the 12th tropical cyclone of the year and China's third this month, brought gale-force winds and torrential rain to Guangdong and neighboring Hong Kong. Hong Kong's Observatory downgraded the typhoon signal to No. 3 from No. 8 by afternoon, as the storm weakened inland. Heavy to torrential rain is expected to persist until Tuesday across much of southern China, including Fujian, Jiangxi, and Hunan provinces. Authorities urged vigilance in flood-prone areas such as mountainous zones, building sites, and bridges. Hong Kong airport resumed flights on Sunday afternoon after a suspension of over 12 hours. The article is a wire report from Reuters, maintaining a neutral, fact-led register throughout.