In a historic meteorological event that has unfolded over the course of 140 years, the Asian financial powerhouse, Hong Kong, bore witness to the most torrential rainstorm ever recorded in its history. Tragically, this meteorological phenomenon left two people dead and more than 140 individuals injured. According to reports from state media outlets, the region grappled with the unforeseen consequences of incessant rainfall, as the typically bustling city confronted the devastating aftermath of these extreme weather conditions.
The unprecedented deluge, which unfolded on a fateful Friday, unleashed an onslaught of chaos on the city. As of 8:15 pm (1215 GMT) that day, authorities reported that 144 residents, ranging in age from eight to 94 years old, had been injured as a result of the relentless downpour. Hong Kong’s government swiftly issued a statement confirming the gravity of the situation, as videos circulating on various media platforms revealed water cascading down steep hillsides and inundating city streets. Waist-deep flooding transformed narrow streets into treacherous waterways, while malls, metro stations, and tunnels became submerged, adding to the sense of urgency and calamity.
The repercussions of this extreme weather event rippled beyond Hong Kong, causing widespread disruption to its neighboring city, Shenzhen, a prominent tech hub with a population exceeding 17.7 million people. Business and transport links, vital for the economic prosperity of the Pearl River Delta region, were severely impacted. Witnesses on the ground expressed their astonishment at the severity of the situation, with some noting that even previous typhoons had not unleashed such ferocious havoc. Connie Cheung, a 65-year-old assistant nurse in Hong Kong, conveyed her feelings of terror, saying, “I’ve never seen scenes like this before. Even during previous typhoons, it was never this severe. It’s quite terrifying.”
The meteorological culprit behind this calamity was Typhoon Haikui, which initially made landfall in the Chinese province of Fujian several days prior to Hong Kong’s inundation. Although Haikui eventually weakened to a tropical depression, its slow-moving clouds continued to unleash torrents of rain upon an already waterlogged region, still grappling with the aftermath of a super typhoon that struck just a week earlier.
The gravity of the situation prompted Hong Kong’s weather bureau to issue its highest “black” rainstorm warning early on that fateful Friday. Reports indicated that more than 200 mm (7.9 inches) of rain had been recorded on Hong Kong’s main island, the Kowloon district, and the northeastern part of the New Territories since late Thursday. Although the alert was lowered by 6 p.m. (1000 GMT), authorities cautioned the public about the ongoing flood risks, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance.
Hong Kong’s leader, John Lee, expressed grave concern about the extensive flooding across the territory. He directed all government departments to respond with “all-out efforts” to address the unfolding crisis. In response to the dire situation, Hong Kong authorities took swift action by shutting down schools and urging workers to remain at home. Additionally, the city’s stock exchange was temporarily closed to mitigate further disruptions.
Eric Chan, the secretary for administration, reported that Hong Kong’s transport network had been severely disrupted. He declared an “extreme conditions situation,” which would be in effect until midnight on Friday. The consequences of the deluge were felt acutely by the city’s rail network, operated by MTR Corp (0066.HK), with at least one line completely shut down and others experiencing significant delays. Shocking images emerged of metro workers wading through waist-deep water within station premises.
The devastation extended beyond the city’s transit infrastructure, as some roads were partially washed away, including a major route leading to the southern beaches of Hong Kong. A chilling image circulated on social media, showing a car swallowed by a meters-wide pothole formed when a section of the road collapsed. Tragically, rescue workers transported one person to the hospital who was later pronounced dead upon arrival, as reported by a television news channel.
Notably, Hong Kong’s vital cross-harbour tunnel, a critical conduit connecting the island to Kowloon, succumbed to the deluge, rendering it impassable. Furthermore, a shopping mall in the Chai Wan district found itself submerged, exemplifying the widespread nature of the disaster. Adding to the turmoil, some passenger and cargo clearance operations at border points between Hong Kong and Shenzhen were suspended due to the extensive flooding, disrupting vital trade and travel routes.
In the midst of this meteorological chaos, Macau ferry operators in Hong Kong were compelled to suspend several sailings to the renowned gambling hub, exacerbating the economic repercussions of the deluge. Additionally, reports emerged of more than 100 pigs drowning in a flood near the border with Shenzhen, underlining the devastating impact on both human and animal life.
The China Meteorological Administration issued a dire warning, forecasting heavy rain until early Saturday for the central and southwestern areas of Guangdong province. This grim outlook prompted the closure of schools, subway stations, and offices in the bustling Guangdong city of Shenzhen. Resilient residents, clinging to safety lines, navigated knee-deep waters, as depicted in videos circulated by state media.
A startling record in the rainfall log revealed that 465.5 mm (1.5 ft) of rain had fallen in Shenzhen over a 12-hour period, marking the most substantial precipitation since records began in 1952. Projections indicated that daily rainfall in the Pearl River Delta region, which links Hong Kong to mainland China, could surpass 500 mm, further exacerbating the flooding crisis. Videos captured the inundation of both entry and exit areas at the Shenzhen railway station, resulting in the suspension of train services connecting the city to the provincial capital of Guangzhou. Approximately 100 individuals found themselves stranded at the station, further underscoring the extent of the disruption.
The city of Guangzhou, a major urban center in Guangdong province, was not spared from the meteorological onslaught. Schools in ten districts suspended classes for the day or delayed their opening, while the nearby city of Zhuhai, in close proximity to Macau, warned of the imminent threat of waterlogging and landslides.
Further north, the industrial city of Dongguan reported its heaviest rainfall in 15 years, adding to the growing list of regions grappling with the aftermath of the unprecedented rainstorm.
In summary, the heaviest rainfall in 140 years wreaked havoc on Hong Kong and its neighboring regions, leaving a trail of destruction and disruption in its wake. The extreme weather event, driven by Typhoon Haikui and exacerbated by previous typhoons, resulted in fatalities, injuries, infrastructure damage, and economic setbacks. As communities rallied to address the immediate challenges posed by the deluge, the event served as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of densely populated urban centers in the face of extreme weather events, underscoring the need for resilient infrastructure and disaster preparedness.
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