Torrential rain deluged Hong Kong on Friday resulting in widespread flooding throughout the densely packed metropolis, submerging streets, procuring malls and metro stations, as authorities shut colleges and requested staff to remain at residence.
The Chinese language particular administrative area noticed the best hourly rainfall since information started 140 years in the past. Cascades of water tumbled down town’s mountainous terrain as authorities issued landslide threat warnings.
Movies circulating on social media confirmed streets become torrents, whereas one clip confirmed metro staff wading waist deep in a station as they tried to stem the water stream gushing down from street degree.
The town’s cross-harbour tunnel, considered one of principal arteries connecting Hong Kong island to Kowloon, was additionally inundated with water, whereas pictures confirmed a waterlogged procuring centre within the Chai Wan district.
Hong Kong Observatory reported rainfall of 158.1 millimetres between 11 p.m. HKT on Thursday and midnight on Friday.
The climate bureau issued the best “black” rainstorm warning and mentioned greater than 200 mm of rainfall was recorded on Hong Kong’s principal island, Kowloon and the northeastern a part of town’s New Territories since Thursday evening.
The trough of low strain related to the remnant of Storm Haikui has introduced torrential rain to the coast of Guangdong since Thursday, the climate bureau mentioned. Excessive situations are anticipated to final till at the least midday on Friday.
Hong Kong’s inventory change is not going to open on Friday morning if the black rainstorm warning continues to be in place at 9 a.m. native time, the change mentioned.
Metropolis chief John Lee mentioned he was very involved in regards to the extreme flooding in most components of the territory and had instructed all departments to reply with “all-out efforts.”
Some passenger and cargo clearance factors at two border management factors between Hong Kong and neighbouring metropolis Shenzhen had been suspended as a result of flooding, the federal government mentioned.
Within the metropolis’s Wong Tai Sin district, automobiles had been submerged in water as they tried to drive down a principal street.
Hong Kong’s MTR Corp, which operates town’s rail community, mentioned at the least one line was shut whereas others had been working at delayed intervals.
All colleges have been suspended on Friday as a result of “excessive situations brought on by intensive flooding and critical site visitors disruption,” the federal government mentioned.
It appealed to employers to watch work preparations usually used for the robust wind sign No. 8, which brings town to an efficient standstill with places of work and shops shut.
