It must have been a terrifying moment for swimmers and lifeguards when lightning struck a Hong Kong pool early Saturday morning. The incident at the Sha Tin Jockey Club Swimming Pool has rightly
prompted calls for mandatory closures of outdoor public venues during thunderstorm warnings. It should also be a reminder to the public and officials to better prepare for increasing levels of severe weather.
A concrete diving platform at the pool was severely damaged when the bolt struck at 6.41am. Fortunately, there were no injuries. The Hong Kong and Kowloon Life Guards’ Union said several swimmers were already in the water. It warned that lightning is a “major safety hazard” at pools, beaches and rivers amid severe weather.
The incident should spark urgent debate about public safety during thunderstorms as well as potential gaps in the city’s weather preparedness. The lifeguards’ union has called for a review of protocols that allow pools to stay open amid broader thunderstorm warnings. Pool managers are supposed to monitor weather updates and be ready to clear people out if alerts are issued for their areas. The union is worried that waiting for local confirmation and then issuing sudden evacuation orders could lead to dangerous bottlenecks at pool ladders.
It is good that the Leisure and Cultural Services Department is working with the Observatory and exploring ways to send advanced alerts earlier. While there are frequent discussions about typhoons, landslides, flooding and blocked drains, the lethal unpredictability of lightning is largely overlooked. Education could be stepped up, but it must not fall on deaf ears. Lightning has been deadly in recent years, with
a hiker killed in 2022 and a canoeist in 2021.
Climate change has increased the frequency of such weather systems. This year’s
El Nino weather pattern could intensify conditions across southern China. Hongkongers can play a role by ensuring the city’s resources, including emergency workers, are put to the best use. Everyone should use common sense measures and do their best to stay out of harm’s way when skies darken and thunderstorm warnings are issued.
