At 3:50 a.m. on July 26th, Typhoon Noul, the 12th typhoon of the year, made landfall along the coast of Pinghai Town in Huidong County, Huizhou, as a severe typhoon. Maximum winds near its center reached Force 14, or 45 meters per second. It was the strongest typhoon to make landfall east of the Pearl River Estuary in nearly a decade and the strongest to hit China so far this year. Before the storm arrived, people had already been moved to safety. In this race against the powerful typhoon, Huizhou evacuated 200,000 people and achieved a record of zero casualties.

Behind the safe evacuation of 200,000 people were the tireless efforts of countless emergency workers. More than 5,960 officials responsible for flood control, drought relief and typhoon response across the city reported for duty. Huizhou fire and rescue teams deployed 2,340 personnel and 390 vehicles, while reinforcements from Foshan and Zhongshan comprised 200 personnel, 58 vehicles and 21 boats. As of 6 p.m. on July 26th, Huizhou fire and rescue teams had responded to 375 emergency calls. These included 189 operations to clear road obstructions, 77 evacuation operations in which 354 people were moved to safety, and 109 operations to secure doors, windows and objects at risk of falling from height.

Huidong County, where the typhoon made landfall, had made extensive preparations before the storm arrived. A total of 90,122 people were evacuated across the county, 4,193 vessels were moved to safety, 10,781 people at sea were brought ashore, 32,115 people in areas at imminent risk of disaster were relocated, 21,378 people were evacuated from construction sites, and 25,848 people were moved out of hotels and homestays. More than 300 emergency shelters across the county were fully activated.

At 2:38 a.m. on July 26th, two women were injured in falls in the underground parking garage of the Paopaohai residential community in Daya Bay and were in urgent need of rescue. It was the height of the storm. Roads were strewn with fallen trees and debris, and the ambulance rocked violently in the powerful winds. The Daya Bay Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters immediately coordinated a rescue operation, while police officers and security guards at the scene braved the wind and rain to clear the road in relays. At 5:36 a.m., an armored anti-riot vehicle, like a mobile fortress, carried the injured women safely to the hospital, bringing a harrowing night to a safe end.

一场与时间的赛跑，一次二十万人的安全大转移

7月26日3时50分，今年第12号台风“红霞”以强台风级在惠州市惠东县平海镇沿海登陆，中心附近最大风力14级（45米/秒）。这是近十年以来登陆珠江口以东的最强台风，也是今年以来登陆中国的最强台风。风未至，人先行。在这场与强台风的赛跑中，惠州用二十万人的安全转移，交出了一份“0人员伤亡”的答卷。

二十万人的安全转移背后，是无数人的守护。全市5960余名三防责任人全部上岗到位，惠州消防累计出动390车2340人，佛山消防、中山消防增援力量共200人、58车、21艇；截至7月26日18时，惠州消防共接处警375起（其中清理路障189起、转移群众77起，共转移354人、关闭门窗及高空悬物109起）。

在本次台风登陆地惠东县，该县在台风来临前，就提前做好应对，全县累计转移撤离90122人，撤离船舶4193艘，转移海上人员10781人，转移临灾人群32115人，在建工程项目转移21378人，酒店民宿转移25848人。全县300多个应急庇护点全面启用。

7月26日凌晨2时38分，大亚湾泡泡海小区地下停车场内，两名女子摔伤急需救援。此时正值最强台风时段，路面满是倒伏树木与杂物，救护车剧烈摇晃。大亚湾区防汛防台风指挥部火速调度，现场民警、保安顶着风雨接力清障。5时36分，一辆防暴车如同移动的堡垒，载着伤员稳稳驶入医院，将惊心动魄的一夜画上平安句号。

文、图｜林海生 杨锦强 黄城栋 孙子浩 申欣悦
译 | 郑奕玲
审 | 曾敏