Updated

Updated · The Associated Press · Jul 26

Typhoon Noul Weakens After China Landfall as 801,000 Evacuate and Hong Kong Cancels 350 Flights

Updated

Updated · The Associated Press · Jul 26

Typhoon Noul Weakens After China Landfall as 801,000 Evacuate and Hong Kong Cancels 350 Flights

Q: While a record-breaking typhoon spared millions through mass evacuations, why did a sudden inland rainstorm claim more lives overnight?

The typhoon caused fewer deaths mainly because it was forecast well in advance and triggered a large, organized response, while the Gansu disaster was a fast-onset flash flood that hit a vulnerable campsite with little time to escape. In Guangdong, authorities had days of tracking on Typhoon Noul, issued alerts, halted transport, raised flood-control responses and evacuated more than 801,000 people. Hong Kong also shut down large parts of air traffic, canceling about 350 flights. Those actions reduced exposure before the storm arrived, even though Noul was described as the strongest typhoon to hit China so far that year. The Gansu deaths came from a different hazard profile. Reports said sudden heavy rainfall triggered torrential mountain floods in Weiyuan county, trapping tourists at a scenic camping area. Flash floods in mountainous terrain can form within minutes, especially in narrow valleys and river channels, where water rises rapidly and carries mud and debris. Campers are particularly exposed because they are often close to streams and sleeping when water surges, leaving little warning and limited evacuation routes. The contrast is a reminder that disaster tolls depend not only on storm strength, but on warning time, location and preparedness. A major coastal cyclone can be survivable when authorities move hundreds of thousands early. A localized inland cloudburst can be deadlier if it strikes suddenly in a terrain trap such as a mountain campsite.

3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Jul 26

Typhoon Noul weakened to a tropical storm Sunday after moving inland in southern China, but heavy rain was still forecast for parts of Guangdong and Fujian.
801,000 people were relocated in Guangdong, while China’s water ministry raised its flood-control emergency response over risks of mountain flooding.
350 flights were canceled in Hong Kong and about 2,000 passengers were stranded over the weekend; authorities also reported at least 21 injuries during the typhoon period.
100 million yuan ($14.8 million) was allocated for recovery in Guangdong after Noul, state media said, became China’s third landfalling typhoon in a month and its strongest landfall so far this year.
Elsewhere in the storm’s path, at least 3 people died in the Philippines, while separate flash flooding in Gansu killed at least 10 and injured 23.