When ‘picnic tragedy’ flash flood in Hong Kong left 28 dead on an August day 62 years ago
Groups from Kowloon-Canton Railway Staff Club and the St James’ Settlement, including many children, were enjoying a Sunday outing at Taipo Kau when calamity struck in 1955
“Tragedy At Taipo Kau; Children And Students Killed By Suddenly Flooded Stream”, read a South China Morning Post headline on August 29, 1955.
The report continued, “Twenty-one Chinese children and students are known to have been killed when they were swept away by a stream which suddenly turned into a torrent following a cloudburst at Taipo Kau, New Territories yesterday afternoon.”
Victims “ranged in age from nine to 20” and included members of parties from the Kowloon-Canton Railway Staff Club and the St James’ Settlement, who were enjoying a Sunday afternoon outing.
“They were picnicking on the banks of the stream when suddenly a large volume of water rushed down and swept them away, hurling them against rocks and causing some to drown.”
An 18-year-old La Salle College student told the Post: “At about 1 p.m., after we had enjoyed ourselves swimming and having fun, it suddenly rained. I picked up my belongings and prepared to leave when suddenly the stream became swollen and a large amount of water gushed down.”
