On Friday, record-breaking rainfall inundated Hong Kong, causing the city to come to a shuddering halt.
Intense inundation submerged metro stations and transformed roadways into raging torrents and stranded motorists.
Hong Kong’s Dual Disaster: Deluge After Deadly Typhoon
As the city dealt with the unprecedented deluge, authorities proclaimed a state of emergency, suspended schools, and urged residents to seek sanctuary.
Images and videos on social media showed residents laboring to traverse the flooded streets while wading through murky brown inundation. In low-lying areas, submerged vehicles necessitated rescue operations to save stranded motorists.
According to the government, the Hong Kong Observatory recorded over 158 millimeters (6.2 inches) of rainfall between 11 p.m. and midnight on Thursday night, signifying the highest hourly rainfall since records began in 1884.
Online meteorological data site OGimet, some areas of the densely populated city, home to 7.4 million people, received nearly 500 millimeters (19.7 inches) of precipitation in just 24 hours.
These extreme conditions occurred just days after Hong Kong endured its deadliest typhoon in five years, catching residents by surprise.
Typhoon Saola, initially a super typhoon, diminished to the equivalent of a Category 2 hurricane when it struck Hong Kong last weekend.
Nonetheless, it resulted in extensive damage, including downed trees, hundreds of flight cancellations, and 86 injuries.
Read more: Hong Kong Elevates Super Typhoon Saola Alert To Second-Highest Level
Hong Kong’s Chaos: Excessive Rain Disrupts City
Friday’s excessive rain caused extensive disruptions throughout the city, affecting transportation and business operations.
The stock exchange canceled morning trading, and schools remained closed. Due to hazardous travel conditions, authorities instructed non-essential employees to work from home or seek alternative accommodation.
The government issued a ‘black’ precipitation warning, the highest level, and advised citizens to seek shelter and remain indoors.
As seen in videos from Thursday evening, flood water entered the first floors of some buildings and malls, scattering detritus across the floors. One metro line was suspended due to inundation in the Wong Tai Sin district, causing significant disruptions to public transportation.
Videos widely distributed online depicted water flowing down subway stairs and employees attempting to control the inundation. Due to the risk of landslides, essential bus, tram, and ferry services were suspended, and some roads were closed.
According to Chinese state media, the heavy rain in Shenzhen, Hong Kong’s neighboring city on the Chinese mainland, broke maximal rainfall records for two-hour, three-hour, six-hour, and 12-hour periods since 1952. From 5 p.m. Thursday to 6 a.m. Friday, Shenzhen received 469 millimeters (approximately 18.5 inches) of precipitation, resulting in the closure of kindergartens, primary and secondary schools and the suspension of six subway lines.
Shenzhen, a neighboring city, also disclosed intentions to release water from a reservoir, prompting concerns about the possibility of flooding in the northern New Territories district of Hong Kong.
The unprecedented rainfall and ensuing pandemonium demonstrate the susceptibility of coastal cities such as Hong Kong to extreme weather events and the significance of preparedness and infrastructure resilience in the face of climate change.
Read more: Aftermath Of Typhoon Doksuri In China: Power Lines Destroyed, Trees Uprooted
