Heavy rains have wreaked havoc in Hong Kong for the first time in 140 years, with many streets and suburbs flooded and educational institutions closed.
According to the foreign news agency ‘AFP’, heavy rains have been recorded since 1952 in Shenzhen, the technology center of China.
Climate change has increased the intensity of storms, with experts saying more rain is causing catastrophic flooding and coastal damage.
Heavy downpours in Hong Kong began yesterday and continued until midnight, with the city receiving 158.1 mm of rain, the heaviest since 1884, the Met Office said.
Authorities have issued a warning of catastrophic floods where emergency officials are continuing rescue operations in various areas.
Residents living near rivers should be alert for weather conditions and consider evacuating if their homes are flooded, the Met Office said.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s stock exchange has suspended all trading activities.
The government said the situation would remain extremely tense until 6 p.m., but hospital officials said 80 people sought help in emergency rooms.
This morning, taxis were forced to wade through the flooded urban area where citizens were busy trying to go about their daily business while some cars got stuck.
Roads on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island were also completely submerged where river water rose over the banks.
However, in densely populated coastal areas of southern China, millions of people were confined to their homes ahead of the storms.
Authorities have suspended schools and halted cargo clearance services on the city’s border with Shenzhen.
Shenzhen is also preparing to release water from its reservoirs, which it says could lead to flooding in northern parts of the city.
A subway operator from Hong Kong said one of its lines was experiencing service difficulties due to flooding in the Taichung district.
#Heavy #rains #Hong #Kong #years #roads #flooded #educational #institutions #closed
2024-07-26 09:13:27
