Southern China drenched as Typhoon Noul makes landfall

HONG KONG, July 26 - Typhoon Noul made landfall early on Sunday in southern China, bringing heavy rain and gale-force winds across Guangdong province and neighbouring Hong Kong, prompting the cancellation of flights at Hong Kong's international airport.Noul, which means the glow of sunrise or sunset in Korean, is the 12th typhoon in the Pacific so this year and the third to hit China this month. It has forced the relocation of more than 340,000 people in Guangdong province, authorities said on Saturday.The typhoon is weakening as it moves further inland, Hong Kong's Observatory said on Sunday, adding that strong gales continue to affect much of the city. The Observatory issued an Amber Rainstorm Warning for heavy rain and cautioned residents about flash floods. Rain exceeding 30 mm (1.2 inches) an hour has fallen and is expected to continue, it said.Authorities in the Asian financial hub raised the storm alert to Typhoon Signal No. 9 early on Sunday as the storm passed within 80 kilometres (50 miles) of Hong Kong, before downgrading it to Signal No. 8 at 07:10 a.m. (2310 GMT Saturday).Typhoon Signal No. 8, which keeps most businesses and transport links closed, will be in place until at least noon, the observatory said.Airport authorities said flight operations will gradually begin resuming after 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. REUTERS