Typhoon Noul Ravages Southern China as Gansu Flash Flood Takes Ten Lives

On the early hours of Sunday, a powerful system known as Typhoon Noul barreled ashore near Pinghai in Guangdong province, just about 80 kilometres north‑east of Hong Kong. With sustained winds clocking roughly 162 km/h, it instantly earned the dubious honor of being the strongest tropical cyclone to touch China in 2026.

State media was quick to describe the storm as “the most intense typhoon of the year”, and the warning sirens weren’t far behind. Local authorities, apparently learning from past calamities, ordered the evacuation of more than 340,000 residents from low‑lying districts and coastal towns. It felt a bit chaotic – schools were shuttered, markets emptied, and people huddled in temporary shelters while the wind howled outside.

Air travel took a serious hit. Hong Kong International Airport reported the cancellation of at least 350 passenger flights on Sunday alone, leaving many travelers stranded and airports eerily quiet. Train services weren’t spared either; several rail lines were temporarily suspended as crews inspected tracks for debris and downed trees.

In Guangdong, the rain came in thick, relentless sheets. Streets turned into rivers, and a few neighbourhoods saw rooftops literally peeled off by gusts that some residents described as “force‑11 strength”. A heart‑stopping video that went viral showed a baby’s crib being tossed around a living‑room before it miraculously landed upright – a moment that sparked a wave of relief‑filled comments online.

Across the water, Hong Kong felt the typhoon’s lingering fingers. The Hong Kong Observatory warned that while Noul was moving inland and gradually losing steam, gusts of 70‑80 mph (110‑125 km/h) were still battering the city’s higher ground. The storm knocked down trees, ripped off signs and caused minor injuries to at least 21 people. Even a basketball hoop didn’t survive the onslaught.

Meanwhile, in the far‑northwestern province of Gansu, a completely separate weather nightmare unfolded. Heavy rains over the Dingxi‑Weiyuan area triggered a sudden flash flood in a popular scenic spot. The torrent surged without warning, catching a group of tourists who were camping nearby. Ten people lost their lives, and 23 more were injured, according to reports from state media. Emergency teams raced to the site, pulling survivors from the water and transporting the injured to nearby hospitals.

The twin disasters forced the central government to step in. Beijing earmarked 100 million yuan for Guangdong’s recovery – funds earmarked for repairing damaged roads, restoring power lines, and rebuilding the few structures that the wind managed to demolish. In Gansu, relief crews were dispatched with rescue equipment, medical supplies and temporary shelters for displaced visitors.

Looking ahead, meteorologists warned that the remnants of Noul could still bring heavy rain to Jiangxi, Hunan and Hubei provinces, especially in mountainous regions where landslides and localized flooding are a constant threat. Provincial disaster‑control offices have already raised their emergency response levels to a “high” alert.

For now, the images coming out of Guangdong and Hong Kong – torn‑up billboards, overturned street furniture, and the eerie calm that follows a storm – remind us how quickly nature can turn everyday life upside‑down. And in Gansu, the tragic loss of ten lives underscores the ever‑present danger of flash floods, even in places that might seem far removed from the coastal chaos.

As China begins the clean‑up, residents are urged to stay vigilant, heed local advisories, and, if possible, avoid travel until the weather finally settles.