Hunan elevates emergency response as Typhoon Noul barrels down

Central China's Hunan province upgraded its emergency response on Sunday to brace for heavy downpours and strong winds as Typhoon Noul, weakened to a severe tropical storm on Sunday, heads for the region.

As of 10 am Sunday, Noul's center was tracking through Huizhou, Guangdong province, and moving north-northwestward. The storm is forecast to cross central Guangdong before entering southern Hunan in the early hours of Monday, according to the National Meteorological Center.

Meteorological authorities warned that the storm will bring fierce gales and torrential rain to Hunan from Sunday afternoon to Tuesday morning, with some areas facing risks of rainstorms accompanied by severe thunderstorms and wind up to Beaufort scale 10.

In response, the Hunan provincial meteorological bureau upgraded its emergency response to Level III at 11 am Sunday. Simultaneously, the provincial emergency management committee activated a Level IV emergency response for flood control, geological disaster prevention and natural disaster relief, covering 10 municipalities and prefectures.

Local authorities held a meeting on Saturday, urging enhanced patrols and strict safety management for small and medium-sized reservoirs, particularly those that are dilapidated or under construction, to ensure safe flood passage through scientific and coordinated water project operations.