Little damage from Typhoon Nida due to extensive disaster mitigation work, Hong Kong’s development chief says
But he adds that city still needs to update its prevention and mitigation strategies, and improve current infrastructure
The relatively minimal damage inflicted by Typhoon Nida on Hong Kong last week was a result of years of disaster mitigation projects proving their effectiveness, according to development chief Paul Chan Mo-po.
But he stressed that the city needed to “move with the times” in the face of changing climates and further enhance its disaster prevention and mitigation work, including the improvement of existing infrastructure.
Nida hit the city with gale force winds and heavy rain last Tuesday, with the No. 8 storm warning signal – the city’s first this year – in place for 16 hours. Flooding in low-lying areas was not as severe as initially feared, but emergency crews had to deal with more than 400 reports of fallen trees.
About 300 hectares of farmland across the New Territories were affected, triggering the release of an emergency government relief fund. At least 12 people sought treatment at public hospitals’ accident and emergency departments during the typhoon, while 262 people took refuge in temporary shelters.