HONG KONG: Torrential downpours and blackened skies swept across Hong Kong and the surrounding high-tech hubs of China’s Pearl River Delta on Tuesday (Aug 5), shutting schools, hospitals, and courts, and turning the city’s steep staircases into surging waterfalls.
Between 6am and 6.59am, Hong Kong’s weather authorities recorded around 10,000 lightning strikes, while rainfall reached up to 90mm per hour, drenching both the city and neighbouring Guangdong province.
Dramatic footage showed floodwaters cascading down hillsides and spilling over staircases across the densely built city. The Hong Kong Observatory extended its highest “black” rainstorm warning until 3pm, warning of dangerous flooding and urging residents to stay indoors.
Outside the city’s largest hospital, floodwaters rose to ankle height, prompting the closure of clinics across Hong Kong.
Meteorologists have linked such extreme rainfall and flooding to climate change, which has increasingly battered mainland China with deadly storms, displacing thousands and causing billions in economic damage. The latest deluge follows flash floods over the weekend in southern China that killed five in Guangdong province and triggered a rescue mission involving more than 1,300 personnel.
As of Tuesday morning, four rivers in Guangdong had reached critical levels, raising fears of overflowing banks, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Hong Kong, Guangdong, and Macau — which issued a Red rain warning — are key pillars of President Xi Jinping’s Greater Bay Area plan, aimed at integrating Hong Kong’s financial clout with Guangdong’s industrial and technological power.
The storms also disrupted travel, with airports in the region reporting cancellation rates of about 20% and speed limits imposed on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge due to poor visibility. Hong Kong International Airport remained operational but warned passengers to confirm their flights before travelling.
While the Hong Kong Stock Exchange stayed open under a policy change made last year, the judiciary suspended court, tribunal, and registry operations until at least two hours after the black rainstorm warning is lifted.
“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 an online bulletin.
On average, Hong Kong receives around 2,200mm of rainfall annually, with over half falling between June and August.
Still, not all activities were halted — Hong Kong Disneyland confirmed it remained open, with its “Friendtastic! Parade” still scheduled for later in the day.
