Record rainfall
Highest alert level in Hong Kong: torrential rain fills subway stations
Watch the video: Hong Kong records the heaviest rainfall in at least 140 years.
STORY: Torrential rains in Hong Kong on Friday caused widespread flooding in the densely populated city. The region recorded its highest hourly rainfall since records began 140 years ago. Water rushed down the city’s mountainous terrain, flooding streets, shopping centers and subway stations. Authorities closed schools and offices and urged people to stay at home. The weather bureau issued the highest severe weather warning, saying more than 200 mm of rainfall had been recorded since Thursday evening on the main island of Hong Kong, Kowloon and the northeastern part of the city’s New Territories.
Torrential rain causes flooding in Hong Kong. The city is recording its heaviest rainfall in at least 140 years. Schools and offices remain closed and people are asked to stay at home.
A few days after Hong Kong narrowly escaped the impact of a typhoon, heavy rains caused massive flooding in the Chinese special administrative region on Friday night. According to authorities, record rainfall caused flooding in many parts of the city and brought traffic to a standstill. Firefighters had to go out on rescue missions several times. But no one has been injured so far.
The government of China’s special administrative region spoke of “extreme conditions” in a statement on Friday. The population has been instructed to stay in safe places. Schools remained closed and companies were asked to give their employees time off.
Hong Kong has recorded the heaviest rainfall in at least 140 years
The weather station in Hong Kong registered a new rain record for part of the city on Friday night. At the observatory headquarters, 158.1 liters of rain per square meter was measured within an hour. This is the highest since records began in 1884. A “black warning” has been issued for further heavy rain.
The Hong Kong newspaper “South China Morning Post” reported streets that turned into raging rivers. Images of full underground car parks and flooded subway stations were shared on social networks. Mass Transit Railway announced it would partially suspend operations on one of its lines after a station in Wong Tai Sin district was flooded. Images of a train continuing past a flooded platform were shared on online networks.
The weather service urged residents near rivers to “pay attention to weather conditions” and to “consider evacuation” if their homes are flooded. Because heavy rain will “lead to flash floods.”
Heavy rain causes chaos
Floods and deaths: images of the severe storms in Greece and Turkey
Heavy rain also in Shenzhen, China
Heavy rain was also reported in the nearby megacity of Shenzhen in China. Hong Kong authorities say Shenzhen is preparing to release water from its reservoirs – which could cause more flooding in northern Hong Kong.
Typhoon “Saola” made landfall in southern China on Saturday. “Saola” was also awaited with great concern in Hong Kong. However, before it reached the metropolis, the “super typhoon” weakened and the damage was less than feared.