China evacuates over 340,000 and cancels flights ahead of Typhoon Noul
Typhoon Noul is battering southern China and Hong Kong with winds and heavy rain.
Hong Kong's Observatory said Noul, which had intensified with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph near its center, was moving on Saturday across the South China Sea and edging closer toward the coast of Guangdong.
The city's observatory forecasts Noul could make landfall Sunday morning around the vicinity of the southern Chinese cities of Huizhou and Shanwei and then move inland, bringing strong winds and squally showers to parts of the region. China's weather center expects Noul to make landfall in the early hours of Sunday.
China's National Meteorological Center expects parts of southern Guangdong and southeastern Fujian provinces will experience heavy rain and strong winds over the weekend.
More than 340,000 people had been evacuated by Saturday afternoon in Guangdong province, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Train services in the province have been canceled for Sunday, according to the China News Service.
Hong Kong airport's website showed more than 150 flights had been canceled for Saturday and Sunday, with more flights facing possible cancellations.