As the twelfth typhoon of the year closes in on China's southern coast, Guangdong Province braces beneath the weight of a red alert — the highest warning a nation practiced in storms can issue. Typhoon Noul, churning at Force 14 winds just 100 kilometers offshore, reminds a vast and modern civilization that nature still sets the terms of daily life. Hundreds of thousands find their plans suspended, their movements stilled, as governments and communities enact the ancient ritual of preparation in the face of the uncontrollable.
China Issues Red Alert as Typhoon Noul Approaches Guangdong
Potential displacement of residents with 28 temporary shelters activated; mass transportation disruptions affecting hundreds of thousands of travelers.