Hong Kong Hit by Heaviest Rain in 140 Years: Caused Floods, 83 People Injured

Hong Kong Flood. (Screenshot of YouTube channel WSIL News)

JAKARTA - Hong Kong was hit by its heaviest rain in 140 years on Friday, causing flooding around 83 people were injured, as a result of a typhoon that hit the southern China region.

Video shows streams of water cascading down steep hillsides in the former British colony, flooding waist-deep narrow streets and inundating malls, metro stations and tunnels.

Heavy rain was caused by Typhoon Haikui which hit Fujian Province, China on Tuesday, reported Reuters 8 September.

Although they have weakened to the point of reaching a tropical depression, their slow-moving clouds have caused heavy rainfall in areas still soaked in rain from the devastating typhoon a week earlier.

Hong Kong's weather bureau issued its highest-level "black" rainstorm warning, saying more than 200 mm (7.9 inches) of rain was recorded on Hong Kong's main island, Kowloon District, and parts of the city's northeastern New Territories starting Thursday evening.

Hong Kong leader John Lee said he was gravely concerned about the massive flooding engulfing large parts of the area, instructing all departments to respond with "the utmost effort".

Hong Kong authorities closed schools on Friday and asked workers to stay home. The stock market was not open for morning trading and will remain closed in the afternoon if the "black" rainstorm warning remains in effect at noon.

MTR Corp, which operates the city's rail network, said at least one line was closed, while other lines were operating with delays.

Meanwhile, the city's cross-harbour tunnel, one of the main arteries connecting Hong Kong island to Kowloon, was flooded and a shopping center in Chai Wan District was half submerged.

Some passenger and cargo services at two border points between Hong Kong and Shenzhen were suspended due to flooding.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong's Macau ferry operator said some sailings would be suspended to the gambling hub.

Totally flooded outside our house in wan chai. Rain shows no sign of stopping #rain #flooding #hongkong pic.twitter.com/l4g4QSoDyd

— Justin Hardman (@jahardman) September 7, 2023