Heavy Rain and Flooding Hit Hong Kong and Southern China, 2 Deaths Reported
Hong Kong and southern China experienced heavy rainfall overnight, causing widespread flooding and disruptions to public transport. The Hong Kong Observatory reported that the city recorded over 600mm of rain, equivalent to a quarter of its average annual rainfall. In just one hour, between 11 p.m. Thursday and midnight, the city saw a record-breaking 158.1 millimeters of rain, the highest hourly recording since 1884.
Unfortunately, the extreme weather has resulted in two deaths in Hong Kong, with bodies found floating in different parts of the city. The fire services department has evacuated 110 people and assisted 20 injured individuals. However, the city’s response to the rain and floods has drawn criticism from residents, questioning the authorities’ preparedness for such emergencies. Hong Kong’s No. 2 official, Eric Chan, defended the response, emphasizing that the predictability of rainfall cannot be compared to that of a typhoon and stating that various departments have been working overnight to address the situation.
Videos circulating on social media display the flooded streets in Hong Kong and neighboring Guangdong province, with vehicles navigating through the water and rescue teams using rafts for transportation. The subway station in Hong Kong was heavily affected, with water rushing down the stairs and escalators. Streets, including the cross-harbor tunnel connecting Hong Kong Island with Kowloon, were also submerged in muddy water.
The heavy downpours have prompted the closure of schools in both Hong Kong and Shenzhen, while nonessential workers were urged to stay home. Most bus services in Hong Kong were halted, and the stock exchange did not open. In Guangdong, over 11,000 people were evacuated, and trains and flights were suspended due to the severe flooding. Shenzhen experienced its heaviest rainfall on record, with 469 millimeters in total. Beijing issued a flood disaster warning, forecasting heavy rainfall in several districts through Saturday night.
The city observatory attributed the rain to a trough of low pressure associated with the remnants of a recent typhoon.
Find more AP coverage of the Asia-Pacific region here.
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