As Typhoon Noul strengthened on Saturday, Chinese authorities issued a Level II emergency response amid the growing risk of flooding in coastal areas of Guangdong Province.

Axar.az reports, citing China Daily, Noul, the 12th named typhoon of the year, was moving closer to the eastern coastal areas of Guangdong on Saturday and was expected to bring severe impacts of gales, heavy rain, storm surges and high waves to the province.

To guard against Noul, Guangdong has evacuated more than 20,000 residents living in low-lying areas, the statement said, while 245 reservoirs across the province have released water to free up storage space.

Transportation has been halted, and schools and scenic spots in some coastal cities have been temporarily closed around Guangdong province.

Meteorological forecasts have indicated Noul is expected to make landfall on the central and eastern coasts of Guangdong between Saturday night and Sunday morning , spanning from Chaozhou to Shenzhen. It is expected to land as a Category 12–13 typhoon, with a possibility of intensifying into a Category 14 severe typhoon.