Torrential rain deluged Hong Kong on Friday, causing severe flooding across the densely populated city and drowning streets, retail malls, and metro stations as officials closed schools and encouraged employees to stay home.
The Chinese special administrative region experienced the highest hourly rainfall in 140 years. Water cascaded down the city’s hilly landscape as authorities issued landslide warnings.
Videos circulating on social media showed streets turned into rivers, while one film showed metro personnel swimming waist deep in a station as they attempted to control the water flow rushing down from road level.
The city’s cross-harbour tunnel, one of the main arteries connecting Hong Kong island to Kowloon, was also flooded, and photographs showed a wet shopping mall in the Chai Wan neighbourhood.
Between 11 p.m. HKT on Thursday and midnight on Friday (1500 to 1600 GMT on Thursday), the Hong Kong Observatory recorded 158.1 millimetres (6.2 inches) of rain.
The weather office issued the strongest “black” rainstorm warning, claiming that more than 200 mm of rain had fallen on Hong Kong’s main island, Kowloon, and the city’s northeastern New Territories since Thursday night.
Since Thursday, a trough of low pressure linked with Typhoon Haikui’s remnant has brought torrential rain to China’s Guangdong coast, according to the weather agency.
The extreme weather is predicted to linger until at least midday on Friday.
If the “black” rainfall warning continues in effect by noon, Hong Kong’s stock exchange will not open on Friday morning and will remain closed for the afternoon session, according to the exchange.
City Leader John Lee expressed his concern about the severe flooding in most areas of the territory and directed all departments to respond with “all-out efforts.”
According to the authorities, several passenger and cargo clearance points at two border control points between Hong Kong and the adjacent city of Shenzhen have been suspended owing to floods.
Vehicles were swamped in water as they attempted to drive down a prominent road in the city’s Wong Tai Sin neighbourhood.
The city’s rail network is operated by Hong Kong’s MTR Corp. (0066.HK), which said at least one line was closed and others were operating at delayed intervals.
According to the administration, “extreme conditions caused by extensive flooding and serious traffic disruption” forced all schools to close on Friday.
It urged enterprises to follow the customary work procedures for the strong wind signal 8, which effectively shuts down the city with offices and stores closed. Due to widespread flooding in the financial district, Macau ferry operators in Hong Kong announced that many boat voyages to the casino hub would be cancelled.
On Friday, Macau’s meteorological bureau issued the lowest “yellow” rainstorm warning, allowing schools and businesses, including casinos, to reopen as usual.
