Heavy rains from tropical storm Chanthu caused widespread flooding across Hong Kong and chaos on the roads during peak afternoon traffic times yesterday.
The city escaped a direct hit from the storm, but the Observatory upgraded the rainstorm warning three times within an hour - the amber signal was issued at 4.35pm, followed by the red signal at 5.20pm and the black rainstorm warning 10 minutes later.
About 6pm, police received a report of a man being washed away in a river in Sha Po Chai Tsuen near Wun Yiu on Tat Wan Road, Tai Po. Another man had climbed on the roof of a house to escape floodwaters.
More than 10 people were trapped in the flooded village.
Police said a Government Flying Service helicopter and firemen were dispatched to the scene.
At about 6.30pm, a section of Choi Hung Road near the junction of Prince Edward Road East outside Choi Hung Estate was flooded and police had to cordon off the area and divert traffic.
Flooding was reported in many areas, including Pat Heung, Kam Tin, Sheung Shui, Kowloon West Tsuen Wan and Kwai Ching. Each of these areas recorded more than 100mm of rainfall between 4pm and 6pm.