HONG KONG: Hong Kong’s weather bureau said its highest “black” rainstorm warning would remain in place until 11am on Tuesday (Aug 5), as heavy rains lashed the Asian financial hub, closing hospital wards, schools and the jurisdiction’s courts and register offices.
The storms followed deadly flash floods in Southern China over the weekend, which left five dead in Guangdong province and prompted a large-scale search operation involving over 1,300 rescuers.
“Persistent rainstorm will cause serious road flooding and traffic congestion. Members of the public are advised to take shelter in a safe place,” the Hong Kong Observatory said in a bulletin on its website.
The authority reported 9,837 lightning strikes over the city between 6am and 6.59am. Up to 60-90mm of rain is hitting Hong Kong and the nearby Chinese city of Guangzhou per hour, according to China’s weather authority. Hong Kong typically receives an annual average of 2,220mm of rainfall, more than half of which usually falls from June through August.
The Hong Kong Stock Exchange remains open, having changed its policy to continue trading whatever the weather late last year.
Hong Kong’s hospital authority announced that accident and emergency wards will remain open, but general outpatient clinics and geriatric and psychiatric day hospitals will close due to the extreme weather.
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