Hong Kong faces days of uncertainty as it struggles to recover from monster storm Typhoon Mangkhut

Officials and utility companies appeal for public understanding as they race against time to repair train tracks, ferry piers and power lines while removing 1,500 toppled trees blocking critical transport arteries

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Tseung Kwan O Waterfront Park is left destroyed by Typhoon Mangkhut. Photo: Sam Tsang

Ernest Kao,Elizabeth Cheung,Su XinqiandTony Cheung

Published: 12:17am, 18 Sep 2018Updated: 8:19pm, 19 Sep 2018

Hong Kong is struggling to get back on its feet and facing more days of uncertainty ahead after the monster storm that mauled the city over the weekend left more than 1,000 sections of road blocked by trees or flood debris.

Even as the city’s leader was congratulating rescue and emergency personnel on a job well done in avoiding serious casualties, she came under fire for underestimating the commuter chaos on Monday due to widespread destruction brought by Mangkhut, Hong Kong’s strongest typhoon on record.

Officials and utility companies appealed for public understanding as they raced against time to repair train tracks, ferry piers, power lines, and 170 sets of damaged traffic lights, while removing some 1,500 toppled trees blocking critical transport arteries.

“Our current goal is to get the clearing-up work done in most main routes by 5am,” transport commissioner Mable Chan said on Monday night, adding that smaller roads and certain routes in the North and Sai Kung districts would take more time.

“We hope to get all the clearing work done in the next one to two days.”

More than 13,500 households and businesses, mainly in the remote, rural areas of New Territories North, Yuen Long and Sai Kung, were still waiting for the restoration of power supplies. Nearly 40,000 customers suffered blackouts and power when the storm struck.