Record-breaking downpours leave two dead, one missing in HK; classes and transport suspended
Record-breaking downpours caused by typhoon Haikui hits Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, September 8, 2023. Photo: from IC.
Rescue workers help a stranded resident in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on September 8, 2023, as the city is inundated in the heaviest rainfall since records began in 1884. Photo: VCG
Two people have died, one is missing and at least 117 people are injured in China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) as of Friday after record-breaking downpours swept across the southern coast of China, prompting suspension of schools and public transportation in Guangdong Province and Hong Kong.
The weather bureau of HKSAR issued the highest "black" rainstorm warning and said that the one-hour rainfall of 158.1 millimeters from 23:00 to 24:00 on Thursday was the highest hourly rainfall since records began in 1884.
The Fire Services Department on Friday discovered two men floating in the sea near Causeway Bay and Sheung Wan. They were rescued and received medical attention but did not survive. One person is still missing following the once-in-a-century heavy rain.
Some 117 people were injured during the record-breaking heavy rain in Hong Kong as of 2:15 pm on Friday, with four of them in more serious condition, according to the Hong Kong Hospital Authority.
The HKSAR government on Friday morning announced the shutdown of schools for a day and suspension of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Friday as torrential rain has led to widespread flooding across the densely packed city.
According to the HKSAR government, the extreme weather conditions in Hong Kong are expected to persist until at least midnight on Friday.
"Raining cats and dogs since last evening, with thunderstorms. Shopping malls and roads are flooded like swimming pools and rivers. The condition is critical. My observation is that leaves, branches and solid waste were left unattended after typhoon Saola brought destruction to Hong Kong last weekend. All this debris has been washed into drains and clogged them up," Chu Kar-kin, a veteran current affairs commentator based in Hong Kong, told the Global Times on Friday
"Tram services are suspended. Bus and MTR railway services are affected. Driving on a road with unpredictable conditions and uncertainties. You can't imagine being able to see waterfalls in metro stations. We have no means to go to work," said Chu.
Hong Kong's neighboring city Shenzhen was also hit by the torrential rain, the heaviest since records began in 1952 after the city experienced extremely heavy rainfalls from Thursday evening to Friday morning, said the Shenzhen Meteorological Bureau on Friday.
According to the bureau, four rainfall indexes have reached new records in Shenzhen's meteorological history since 1952, including the maximum precipitation amounts within two hours (195.8 millimeters), three hours (246.8 millimeters), six hours (349.7 millimeters), and 12 hours (465.5 millimeters).
The continuous rainfall has made the water level of Shenzhen reservoirs close to the flood control limit. Local authorities decided to release the flood waters from 00:15 on Friday with a discharge rate of 70 to 80 cubic meters per second.
According to an official from Shenzhen emergency department, the flood discharge may take 10 hours and will affect the low-lying areas along the Shenzhen River in districts of Luohu and Futian as the water will finally reach Shenzhen Bay along Shenzhen River. The official urged people in the region to stay away from the riverbank areas.
As the heavy rain continues on Friday, Shenzhen has suspended schools across the city from kindergartens to senior high schools, and closed down several subway lines. Working places in the city's Luohu district have been closed for one da. More than 1,300 people in Shenzhen have been evacuated from 8 pm on Thursday to 6 am on Friday.
The basement entrance and exit of Shenzhen Railway Station (Luohu) were flooded on Friday morning. All buses, taxis, and passenger vehicles in the city stopped services.
Multiple inter-city trains from Shenzhen to Guangzhou have been suspended as torrential rain is predicted to hit Guangzhou on Friday. Four districts in Guangzhou have issued a top warning of rain and shut down schools.
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