Shenzhen rail and air services cancelled as southern China braces for Typhoon Noul
The third typhoon to hit the country this month is expected to make landfall overnight bringing heavy rains and strong winds
The National Meteorological Centre issued an orange typhoon alert – the second highest level in a four-tier system – on Saturday morning as it moved northwest across the South China Sea at a speed of 20km/h (12mph).
It was expected to land somewhere between Hong Kong and Lufeng in eastern Guangdong overnight with wind speeds of up to 151km/h and then move north.
Strong winds and heavy rain have been forecast for parts of Guangdong, Fujian and Taiwan, and the meteorological centre warned that boats should be docked and large gatherings cancelled, while urging residents to stay indoors as far as possible.
By Saturday afternoon, the eye of the storm had started to form and its rain belts were already affecting coastal cities.