Hong Kong was brought to a halt on Friday as record-breaking rainfall caused flash flooding throughout the city. Metro stations were submerged, drivers were trapped on roads, and authorities were forced to suspend schools while urging the public to seek shelter.
Residents were seen wading through murky brown floodwaters as the heavy rain continued to pour. In some low-lying areas, streets were transformed into raging torrents, leading to the rescue of stranded motorists. The Hong Kong Observatory reported that between 11 p.m. and midnight on Thursday, the city experienced the highest hourly rainfall since records began in 1884, with over 158 millimeters (6.2 inches) of rain.
Some parts of the city received nearly 500 millimeters (19.7 inches) of rainfall within 24 hours, according to weather data site OGimet. These extreme conditions caught many residents by surprise, occurring just days after Hong Kong had already been hit by its strongest typhoon in five years, Typhoon Saola.
The effects of the typhoon had resulted in the shutdown of the city and multiple flight cancellations. The deluge on Friday caused widespread disruptions once again, with the stock market canceling morning trading and all schools closed for the day. Authorities advised businesses to allow non-essential employees to work from home or seek safe shelter due to unsafe travel conditions.
Stuart Hargreaves, a resident of Hong Kong, found himself stranded in his car due to impassable flooded roads. Throughout the night, the water rose dangerously, and he thought his car might flood. Other flooded cars were floating nearby. He eventually found a safe parking spot, but had to wait until daybreak to continue his journey home. When he finally managed to drive, the road was filled with debris, rocks, and abandoned cars from landslides.
By Friday afternoon, the downpour had caused 119 reported injuries, with four people in serious condition, according to Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority. The government stated that these extreme conditions were expected to continue until at least midnight.
The chaos caused by the heavy rain even led to the suspension of services on the Mass Transit Railway's Wong Tai Sin line, as floodwaters engulfed one of the stations. Videos circulating online showed water cascading down the stairs, and workers struggling to prevent flooding at another station.
While most subway operations remained open, major bus, tram, and ferry services were suspended. Some bus services resumed in the afternoon, but many routes remained closed or diverted. Several roads were closed due to the threat of landslides in the mountainous areas, prompting authorities to issue the highest "black" rainstorm warning for the first time in two years.
Videos from the previous evening showed floodwater entering buildings and shopping malls, with debris scattered across the floors. Concerns were also raised about flooding in the northern New Territories district, which borders mainland China, after the nearby city of Shenzhen announced it would release water from a reservoir.
Shenzhen also experienced heavy downpours, breaking several rainfall records that had stood since 1952. The city received 469 millimeters (about 18.5 inches) of rain from Thursday evening to Friday morning, resulting in the closure of kindergartens, primary and secondary schools. Transport was also severely disrupted, with six subway lines suspended.