Hikers trapped and roads flooded in Hong Kong as torrential downpour almost triggers black rainstorm alert, with more rain expected
- Observatory downgrades rainstorm warning from red to amber after earlier saying highest black rainstorm alert might be issued
- Police say that at one point 15 hikers trapped along trails in Sai Kung
Hong Kong took a weather roller-coaster ride on Saturday, with the Observatory warning of a possible black rainstorm alert, but the forecaster eventually lowered its red warning to amber within hours as thunderstorms and flooding left hikers stranded, schools suspended, traffic disrupted and businesses closed.
Areas in the eastern part of Hong Kong – such as Sai Kung, Tseung Kwan O and Kwun Tong – suffered the most and authorities set up nine shelters across the city and deployed 12 care teams to mitigate the effects of the rainstorm.
A total of 16 floods were confirmed in Tseung Kwan O, Sai Kung and Kwun Tong, with contingency teams deployed to handle the cases. They were cleared by about 7.30pm.
A black rainstorm warning means very heavy rain has fallen or is expected to fall, exceeding 70mm in an hour, and is likely to continue.
The city last issued a black rainstorm warning on October 9, 2023, with the signal only dropping 6½ hours later.