Typhoon Noul, China's largest in 2024, makes landfall; scaffolding tumbles in Hong Kong

Typhoon Noul has made landfall in southern China, specifically in Guangdong province, impacting the wider Hong Kong region with powerful winds and heavy rainfall. The storm struck early on Sunday, July 26, 2026, near Huizhou city, bringing sustained winds of up to 162 km/h (100 mph) and prompting Chinese state media to identify it as the strongest typhoon to hit the country so far this year.

The severe weather led to dramatic incidents in Hong Kong, including the collapse of multi-story scaffolding along Cheung Sha Wan Road on Saturday, July 25, 2026. While police received multiple emergency calls regarding the scaffolding incident, there were no immediate reports of serious injuries directly linked to that specific event. Across Hong Kong, however, at least nine to 21 people were reported injured during the typhoon period.

In response to the typhoon, authorities evacuated over 700,000 people in Guangdong province, suspended train services, and canceled hundreds of flights at Hong Kong International Airport, causing significant travel disruptions. The central government has allocated 100 million yuan (USD 14.8 million) for recovery and reconstruction efforts in the affected Guangdong province.