Typhoon Noul battered Hong Kong and southern China on July 27, 2026, unleashing winds up to 155 km/h that ripped multi-storey scaffolding from a building along Cheung Sha Wan Road. The storm forced the cancellation of roughly 360 passenger flights and triggered a No. 9 storm warning before conditions began improving.
The system carried maximum sustained winds of around 96 mph, making it the strongest typhoon to hit China so far in 2026, according to state media reports on the storm’s intensity.
Cheung Sha Wan Road Scaffolding Collapse and Emergency Response
A terrifying video captured the moment powerful gusts stripped towering bamboo scaffolding from a building’s facade. Within seconds, the entire structure peeled away, leaving behind a cloud of dust and twisted debris along Cheung Sha Wan Road.
Police reported receiving numerous emergency calls after the multi-storey structure gave way on Saturday. Despite the frightening scenes, authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported at the scaffolding collapse site.
Transport Disruption and Flight Cancellations in Hong Kong
The severe weather grounded travel across the city. Hong Kong airport was forced to cancel around 360 passenger flights as fierce winds and heavy rain lashed the region.
The storm triggered the city’s No. 9 storm warning. Conditions gradually improved on Sunday, and authorities lifted all tropical cyclone warnings by 7:10 pm as the storm moved inland, allowing airport operations and public transport services to resume step by step.
Wider Regional Damage and Continuing Weather Warnings
Beyond the dramatic building collapse, Typhoon Noul toppled trees, damaged power lines, and caused localized flooding across the affected area. Government agencies received hundreds of reports concerning fallen trees and storm-related incidents, while emergency shelters opened to house residents displaced by the severe weather.
Authorities recorded at least 21 injuries across the region. The Hong Kong Observatory warned that showers and squally thunderstorms would continue into Monday as the storm’s trailing rainbands move across the area.
