China: Over 340,000 relocated in Guangdong ahead of Typhoon Noul
Guangzhou, July 25
More than 340,000 people had been relocated in south China's Guangdong Province by 4 pm Saturday as Typhoon Noul approached the coast, the provincial flood, drought and typhoon control authorities said.
Typhoon Noul, the 12th typhoon of the year, is expected to make landfall along the coast between Shenzhen and Huilai in Guangdong between Saturday evening and Sunday morning, with an intensity ranging from typhoon to severe typhoon level, Xinhua News Agency reported.
China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised its emergency response for flood and typhoon control in Guangdong to Level III on Saturday.
A total of 19 cities and 135 county-level regions in Guangdong had activated emergency responses for strong winds or flooding by 4 p.m. Saturday. Shanwei and Huizhou, along with 10 county-level regions, launched the highest-level response, while 12 cities introduced full or partial shutdown measures.
Maritime authorities have guided 5,109 vessels in Guangdong's coastal waters to safe areas. Another 418 vessels were directed across jurisdictional boundaries to shelter in western Guangdong, Hainan Province and waters off northern Fujian Province.
Meanwhile, China's Ministry of Water Resources activated a Level-IV flood-control emergency response on Saturday in seven provincial-level regions.
China has a four-tier flood-control emergency response system, with Level I being the most severe.
The seven regions are Fujian, Jiangxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong and Guangxi, covering large parts of eastern, central and southern China. Rivers at higher flood risk in these regions include some of the country's major waterways, such as the Pearl, Yangtze and Huaihe, according to the ministry.
To brace for potential flooding, the ministry has urged local water conservancy authorities to closely monitor weather changes, issue timely warnings, and make targeted use of flood-control infrastructure.
On the same day, the Ministry of Emergency Management activated a Level-IV emergency response for geological disasters in Jiangxi and Hunan, while maintaining a Level-IV response of the same type in Guangdong and Fujian.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Over 340,000 people moved in just hours—that's impressive logistical coordination! But as an Indian, I can't help but wonder about the toll on these poor families. Our own climate disasters have taught us that staying safe is key, but it's still heartbreaking to see so many leave their homes.
Typhoon Noul sounds intense—typhoon to severe typhoon level. I recall how India's Cyclone Fani in 2019 required similar massive evacuations in Odisha. It's good to see China's early warning systems being activated, but I hope they also focus on long-term infrastructure to withstand such storms.
As someone from Mumbai who experiences monsoons, I can relate. The article mentions rivers like Pearl, Yangtze, and Huaihe being at risk. In India, we see similar dangers in our Himalayan rivers during heavy rains. Unity in facing nature's fury, I guess! Praying for everyone's safety. 🙏
Raising to Level III response and activating emergency measures across 19 cities shows serious preparedness. But I'm concerned about the 418 vessels sent to shelter in other provinces—will they have enough capacity? Similar issues arose during India's Cyclone Tauktae along the Gujarat coast.
China's four-tier system is very similar to India's disaster management framework. Both countries face frequent typhoons and cyclones. The key difference is in execution—China seems more centralized. India relies heavily on state and local bodies, which can lead to delays. Hope they both improve!
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