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Torrential rain continued to pound Hong Kong Friday — inflicting faculties, workplaces and even the inventory alternate — to shut after an evening of flash flooding that turned streets into raging rivers that appeared higher suited to white-water rafting than metropolis residing.
Elements of southern China additionally skilled drenching rains, together with the tech metropolis of Shenzhen, the place faculties and companies have been additionally closed on Friday.
Because the rains continued to fall, the Hong Kong metropolis authorities introduced at noon Friday that the “black alert” excessive climate warning would stay in impact till no less than 6 p.m.
Earlier, it stated faculties can be closed all day, and solely important staff ought to report back to work. The Hong Kong Inventory Alternate canceled buying and selling, together with the after-hours session, for the whole day.
Hong Kong Chief Government John Lee stated he had ordered all metropolis authorities departments to answer the acute climate with “all-out efforts.”
Town on Thursday evening skilled its most intense hour rainfall since information started 140 years in the past. Hong Kong climate authorities issued a black warning, an alert that greater than 70 millimeters (2.75 inches) of rain was anticipated to fall in an hour, at 11:05 p.m. Thursday.
Greater than double that quantity got here down — the Hong Kong Observatory stated that 158.1 mm (6.22 inches) of rain fell at its headquarters between 11 p.m. and midnight, in accordance with the South China Morning Publish.
In different elements of Hong Kong — Kowloon, the northeastern New Territories and Hong Kong Island — greater than 200 mm (7.87 inches) of rainfall was recorded between 6 p.m. and midnight, the paper reported.
JUST IN: Hong Kong simply recorded its heaviest hourly rainfall on file with 158.1 mm [6.2 inches] between 11 PM and midnight (HKT). Data date again to 1884 (139 years in the past). A uncommon “Black Rainstorm Warning Sign” has been issued by the HKO observatory. pic.twitter.com/KWtyWbqUmd
— Nahel Belgherze (@WxNB_) September 7, 2023
Photographs and video shared on social media confirmed flooded streets, inundated subway stations and swamped metropolis buses.
Water poured into the Cross-Harbor Tunnel, which connects Hong Kong Island with Kowloon, clogging up one of many metropolis’s important arteries. Rubble and water rushed down the aspect of Mount Parker close to Chai Wan, the place roads and parking garages sat underneath standing water.
Greater than 20 buses remained stranded throughout town on Friday morning, in accordance with the South China Morning Publish, and town’s three predominant bus carriers suspended service till additional discover. The metro was largely operational.
In southern China, faculties have been closed Friday in Shenzhen, Zhuhai and elements of Guangzhou and Foshan.
Authorities in Shenzhen warned individuals Friday morning to not enter the central Longgang district, in accordance with native media. Folks and companies on floor flooring of buildings within the district have been urged to evacuate.
Social media posts confirmed that flooding in a single day in Longgang had left dozens of automobiles swamped at main intersections.
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The area has been battered by two typhoons in two weeks, with Saola and Haikui wreaking havoc throughout Taiwan and southern China, though Hong Kong was not the direct path of both.
Vic Chiang and Theodora Yu contributed to this report.