Hong Kong and cities in southern China are facing severe flooding as the region contends with some of the heaviest rainfall it has ever experienced.
Streets and subway stations in Hong Kong were submerged on Friday, leading officials to close schools and workplaces. The meteorological agency stated that this ongoing downpour, which commenced on Thursday, marks the most substantial rainfall event in Hong Kong’s history over the past 140 years.
Emergency services reported that more than 100 individuals had been hospitalized, and numerous rescue operations had been conducted.
Images from the city on Thursday night depicted torrential rain transforming streets into tumultuous rivers, inundating shopping complexes and public transportation networks.
Videos circulated on social media revealing people seeking refuge on top of vehicles and elevated platforms to escape the rising waters, which reached several meters in height in certain areas, blocking entrances to subway stations.
Hong Kong’s crucial cross-harbor tunnel, connecting the main island with the northern Kowloon peninsula, was submerged. Furthermore, the heavy rain triggered landslides in the mountainous regions of Hong Kong, obstructing certain roadways.
By Friday afternoon, the intensity of the downpour had somewhat diminished, prompting authorities to downgrade the rainstorm warning from “black” to “amber.” Nevertheless, they cautioned that showers were expected to persist until Saturday.
On Thursday, authorities issued the “black” warning, which is activated when rainfall surpasses 70 millimeters per hour. The Hong Kong Observatory later reported an hourly rainfall rate of 158.1 millimeters, the highest recorded since meteorological records commenced in 1884.
Between 6:00 PM local time (10:00 GMT) and midnight on Thursday, more than 200 millimeters of rainfall were documented on Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the northeastern part of the city. This cumulative figure exceeds the typical monthly precipitation during certain months for the entire city.
Heavy rains have also deluged southern China, with Shenzhen, situated across the border from Hong Kong, reporting its most substantial rainfall since meteorological records began in 1952.
In the broader Guangdong province, hundreds of flights have been suspended, and local authorities have advised residents in low-lying regions to consider evacuations. The densely populated coastal areas of southern China are home to tens of millions of people.
On Thursday night, Shenzhen released water from its reservoirs after notifying Hong Kong. This move led to questions from Hong Kong residents online about whether it exacerbated the flooding in their city.
However, Hong Kong’s Security Chief, Chris Tang, affirmed on Friday that the water discharge had no impact on the flooding in the city and that the action was safe for both Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
China’s meteorological administration anticipates continued heavy rainfall in the southwestern region of the country on Friday and Saturday.
This recent downpour follows closely behind two successive typhoons, Saola and Haikui, that struck southern China less than a week ago, resulting in a citywide shutdown in Hong Kong.
The increased intensity and frequency of tropical storms due to climate change have led to more frequent flash floods and greater damage. Also learn about Hong Kong Prepares for Super Typhoon Saola.
