HONG KONG (AP) — Typhoon Noul is set to bring heavy rains and strong winds to southern China, including Hong Kong, over the weekend. The region remains on high alert, prompting the evacuation of thousands in Guangdong province and the cancellation of dozens of flights.

The Hong Kong Observatory reported that Noul, with maximum sustained winds of 145 kilometers per hour (90 mph) near its center, was moving steadily across the South China Sea and was nearing Guangdong’s coastline. The city’s observatory anticipates Noul making landfall on Sunday morning near the cities of Huizhou and Shanwei in southern China, potentially bringing showers and wind gusts to parts of the region. China’s meteorological center predicts landfall early Sunday morning.

According to the Hong Kong airport’s website, over 150 flights were canceled on Saturday and Sunday, with further cancellations possible. As Noul approached Hong Kong, parts of scaffolding on a high-rise building collapsed on Saturday afternoon, though local police noted no initial reports of injuries.

Mainland Chinese authorities issued a red typhoon alert, the highest level, on Saturday night, while the Hong Kong Observatory raised the storm signal number 8, the third highest in the city’s alert system.

The National Meteorological Center of China forecasts heavy rains and strong winds in parts of southern Guangdong and southeastern Fujian over the weekend. By Saturday afternoon, over 340,000 people had been evacuated in the southern province of Guangdong, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Rail services in the province were canceled on Sunday, as reported by the China News Service.

The Central Weather Bureau of Taiwan stated that Noul would bring precipitation to parts of southern and eastern Taiwan. The storm passed through waters south of Taiwan and moved away from the island on Saturday.

Earlier this month, Typhoon Bavi brought strong winds and rain to eastern China, forcing the evacuation of more than two million people, after making landfall on July 11. Previously, Typhoon Maysak had made landfall in southern China on July 3.

This story was translated from English by an AP editor with the help of a generative AI tool.