Hong Kong’s first black rainstorm warning of 2021 leads to schools, Covid-19 jabs suspension, while Lantau landslide causes delays for hundreds

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Hong Kong suspended school classes and Covid-19 vaccinations on Monday morning as the first “black” rainstorm of the year lashed the city, while a landslide on Lantau Island resulted in delays for hundreds of residents on their daily commute.

The black rainstorm warning – the highest in a three-tier system – was downgraded to a red-level alert at 11.05am after being in effect for almost three hours. It was then lowered to amber status just 40 minutes later, prompting health authorities to announce that inoculation centres would gradually resume services.

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) called off the morning trading sessions for both the securities and derivatives markets.

The Hong Kong Observatory cancelled the amber alert at 12.30pm and two hours later a thunderstorm warning that was in effect was also removed.

In the New Territories, police attributed a fatal traffic accident to the heavy rain as a bus driver lost control of his vehicle on a wet road in Sheung Shui at about 6.18am.

The storm also delayed a flight carrying Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and her delegation to Beijing to attend the Communist Party’s 100th anniversary celebrations by about an hour. The Air China flight finally departed at 10.52am.

The Observatory issued the black warning at 8.20am, later reporting that more than 200mm of rain had fallen on Lantau Island, Lamma Island and the western part of Hong Kong Island as of 12.30pm, with other areas sustaining at least 70mm of rainfall.

A landslide at about 8am on Lantau blocked two lanes of traffic. Seven other landslides were reported in Aberdeen, Western district, Tseung Kwan O and Cheung Chau. Lantau and Cheung Chau were also hit by flooding.

Video shared on social media showed a torrent of muddy water spilling from a hillside onto South Lantau Road near Upper Cheung Sha Beach.

The affected area was near three villages in Cheung Sha and Tong Fuk. By about 3.50pm, the Transport Department had cleared one lane for traffic, while affected bus services slowly resumed.

The Water Supplies Department said it had inspected the Cheung Sha catchwater near the site of the landslide and found it was partly eroded, while boulders and debris had fallen in, affecting the flow of water. It added it was carrying out emergency work to clear the blockage.

Randy Yu Hon-kwan, chairman of Islands District Council, said it was a relief for dozens of residents as emergency ferry services operated between Tai O and Tung Chung, allowing people to then head into the city and elsewhere to work.

He estimated the storm had affected about 300 to 400 residents.

Yu said he understood government departments had been doing their best to help as quickly as they could.

He also commended the government’s work on landslide prevention, but added: “Of course, from a residents’ perspective, they can always do better and implement prevention measures faster.”

Flooding also caused the closure of the Tuen Mun Chek Lap Kok Tunnel Road towards Tuen Mun, though it reopened by 11.41am.

Shortly after the black rainstorm warning was issued, the government announced it had suspended Covid-19 vaccination services, although the centres remained open. Residents affected by the suspension will have their appointments automatically rebooked and receive a notification via SMS.

Legislative Council meetings scheduled for the morning were also called off, while public services at the Legco complex were suspended.

Education authorities urged schools to keep their premises open and implement contingency measures for any pupils who had already arrived, while parents were asked to only pick their children up if conditions were safe.

The Social Welfare Department also said residents should not take children or other family members to care centres while the storm warnings were still raised, although facilities would remain open for any members of the public unable to provide care.

The Hospital Authority suspended services at general outpatient and specialist clinics, but said they would resume within two hours after the black rainstorm warning was lowered.

All hearings at the city’s courts and tribunals were also suspended for the day, as the black rainstorm warning was still in force as of 11am, the judiciary said.

The rainy weather is expected to continue into Tuesday, before easing later in the week and giving way to a very hot weekend.