Hong Kong was hit for an hour by the worst rainfall ever recorded in the financial metropolis, causing flooding early Friday morning and disrupting road and rail traffic, less than a week after the passage of a super typhoon. To the north of Hong Kong territory, the Chinese metropolis of Shenzhen was also showered by historic torrential rains.
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The Hong Kong Observatory, the city’s meteorological agency, reported rainfall of 158.1 millimeters at its headquarters between 11 p.m. and midnight local, the highest level seen since records began in 1884.
6.2 inches of rain fell in one hour today in Hong Kong causing severe flooding.
It has been an awful week of flooding around the world in Greece, Turkey, Spain, Italy, China and Brazil killing dozens.
— Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) September 8, 2023
The authorities announced the closure of schools “ due to extreme conditions » as well as certain customs services on the border between the city and the technological center of Shenzhen. Hong Kong authorities say Shenzhen is preparing to release water from its reservoirs, which could lead to flooding in parts of northern Hong Kong.
Because, located further north on the peninsula, the large Chinese city is also hit by torrential rains, unprecedented since the implementation of meteorological records in 1952, according to state media. Precipitation locally reached 469 millimeters. The city has 17.7 million inhabitants and is the headquarters of many technology companies.
Typhoon Haikui swept through Taiwan at the start of the week, injuring around a hundred people, uprooting trees and damaging roads, before heading towards southern China, downgraded to a storm. Southern China was hit last weekend by two successive typhoons, Saola and Haikui.
Climate change is increasing the intensity of tropical storms, with more rain and stronger gusts leading to flash flooding and coastal damage, experts say.
(AFP)