Typhoon Hongxia Forces Evacuation of 800,000 in Guangdong

Typhoon Hongxia (international name: Noul), the strongest storm to hit China in 2026, slammed into Guangdong province in the early hours of July 26, forcing the evacuation of more than 801,000 residents across one of the country’s most densely populated regions. The severe typhoon made landfall near Pinghai Town in Huizhou in the pre-dawn hours of July 26, packing maximum sustained winds of 162 km/h (45 m/s) — equivalent to a Category 2-3 hurricane — making it the most powerful typhoon to strike areas east of the Pearl River Estuary in the past decade, according to People’s Daily.

A Historic Storm

As the 12th named storm of the 2026 Pacific typhoon season, Hongxia underwent rapid intensification before landfall, fueled by unusually high sea surface temperatures in the South China Sea. Ye Menglong, a meteorological analyst with Weather China, noted that this factor allowed the storm to strike Guangdong at severe typhoon strength. China Daily reported that the storm is the first typhoon to make landfall in Guangdong this year and the strongest to hit China so far in 2026.

Authorities issued an orange rainstorm warning — the second-highest alert level — for Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, and several other provinces, as the Central Meteorological Observatory warned of continued torrential rainfall across vast swaths of southern and central China, as reported by CCTV News.

Massive Evacuation and Emergency Response

In a coordinated effort spanning 19 prefecture-level cities and 135 districts, Guangdong authorities evacuated 801,794 people by the morning of July 26. Cities including Huizhou, Shenzhen, Shanwei, and Guangzhou implemented “Five Stops” measures — suspending classes, work, production, transportation, and business operations — to minimize risk. Guangdong’s Flood Control Headquarters raised the emergency response to Level I, the highest level, on the night of July 25.

The evacuation effort was particularly intensive in coastal communities. In Shanwei’s Shajiaowei Village, which faces the South China Sea directly, officials began phased evacuations as early as July 23 — moving coastal households first, then seaside businesses, and finally inland residents. By July 25, nearly 800 residents had been safely relocated to hotels in the town.

Huizhou bore the brunt of the evacuation, with 205,164 residents moved to safety, followed by Shanwei (192,234) and Meizhou (94,243). At shelters like Xiasha Primary School in Huizhou’s Daya Bay, evacuees received food and supplies. “There’s seafood, cola, and quilts were distributed — we have everything,” one resident named Luo told People’s Daily reporters.

Rescue Operations and Infrastructure Protection

Emergency responders faced significant challenges as the storm unleashed its fury. In the early hours of July 26, emergency workers in Huizhou’s Ruhu township waded through floodwaters to clear fallen trees and debris, creating a path for an ambulance transporting a pregnant woman to a hospital for delivery.

China Daily reported that Guangdong Fire Rescue deployed over 1,000 personnel from six detachments to reinforce affected areas, while the provincial emergency management department dispatched five rescue teams with 79 assault boats and 8 large drainage units to Huizhou. The Southern Power Grid mobilized nearly 10,000 person-times and 2,000 emergency repair vehicles for power restoration.

Infrastructure preparations included 261 large and medium reservoirs across the province pre-releasing a combined 697 million cubic meters of water to increase flood-control storage capacity. Eight helicopters were deployed across multiple cities, and communications teams with satellite phones were positioned to maintain connectivity.

Widespread Disruption

The storm severely disrupted transportation networks. China Railway Guangzhou Group adjusted or suspended all high-speed and conventional rail services, while airlines including China Southern, China Eastern, Hainan Airlines, and Shenzhen Airlines canceled a total of 377 arriving and departing flights.

Xie Yutong, an office worker in Huizhou’s Huicheng district, told China Daily that rainwater had rushed into her home through the balcony, adding that she had never experienced such intense rainfall. Residents across the region were advised to avoid non-essential travel as the storm continued to lash coastal areas.

Lingering Threat and Recovery

By midday on July 26, Hongxia had weakened to a severe tropical storm with winds of 20 m/s. As of early July 27, the storm was expected to exit Guangdong and enter Hunan province, but its residual circulation continues to pose a serious threat.

Ye Menglong warned that “coastal areas in eastern Guangdong will continue to be battered by torrential rain,” with parts of Heyuan, Meizhou, Chaozhou, Jieyang, Shanwei, and Huizhou expected to experience extreme rainfall in the coming days. The Central Meteorological Observatory cautioned that the residual system could bring heavy rain across six provinces, including Hunan, Jiangxi, and Guangxi, raising the risk of flash floods and landslides.

The National Development and Reform Commission has allocated 100 million yuan ($14.7 million) in emergency funding for post-typhoon recovery efforts. As rescue operations continue and the storm moves inland, authorities remain focused on disaster prevention, with continuous inspections for safety risks and a commitment to timely evacuations where needed.