Record-breaking rainfall in Hong Kong has brought on huge flooding – shutting faculties and companies and turning streets into rivers.
On Thursday night time it skilled the maximum rainfall in an hour in view that data commenced in 1884.
The Hong Kong Observatory recorded 158.1mm (6.2 inches) of rainfall among 11pm on Thursday and middle of the night.
The climate bureau issued a black rainstorm caution final night time – the primary in almost years – which stays in area till middle of the night on Friday.
It stated extra than 200mm (7.nine inches) of rainfall have been recorded on Hong Kong’s essential island, Kowloon and the northeastern a part of the city’s New Territories on the grounds that Thursday night time – and entreated citizens to live safe.
“Heavy rain will convey flash floods,” it warned. “Residents dwelling in near proximity to rivers need to live alert to climate situations and have to remember evacuation” if their houses are flooded, it added.
The territory floor to a halt because the torrential rain submerged streets, buying centres and metro stations, and government close faculties and requested people to live at home.
Videos on social media confirmed the rain lashing down as motorists tried to force thru the critically flooded streets – and a lady helplessly washed down a street.
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One clip confirmed metro employees wading waist deep as they attempted to stem the water go with the drift gushing down the escalators and stairs into the station.
Images additionally confirmed a car in a deep hollow after a phase of a avenue collapsed – and roads blocked through landslides.
A authorities assertion stated Hong Kong chief John Lee was “very concerned” approximately the excessive flooding, and had told all departments to “reply with all-out efforts”.
All colleges might be suspended on Friday because of the “intense situations as a result of sizeable flooding and extreme visitors disruption” it added.
The Hong Kong inventory change did now no longer open for morning buying and selling on Friday and stated it’d stay close withinside the afternoon if the city’s black rainstorm caution remained in location.
The climate bureau attributed the acute rainfall to a “trough of low pressure” related to the remnants of Typhoon Haikui, which in advance this week swept thru Taiwan and southern China’s Fujian province.
