Hong Kong awoke Thursday morning to a severe weather alert, as Tropical Storm Podul swept close to the city. Authorities quickly raised the highest level of caution, issuing a “Black Rainstorm Warning” to brace residents for intense downpours and significant flooding.
The Hong Kong Observatory hit the panic button early Thursday. At 7:50 AM, they raised the “Black Rainstorm Warning.” This is the top-tier alert for severe downpours. Officials said it would likely stay in effect until at least 11:00 AM. A less urgent Typhoon Signal No. 1 was also still flying. Some areas saw exceptionally harsh rain, with certain districts experiencing over 100 millimeters of water falling each hour.
The impact was immediate and visible. The Western District, in particular, suffered severe flooding. Pictures showed people wading through knee-deep water right on the streets. The Drainage Services Department confirmed four specific flood incidents. These included areas near Queen Mary Hospital and the University of Hong Kong, along with Water Street and Lung Fu Street. Crews swiftly brought in large pumps to help clear the standing water.
The city’s response was swift and organized. Teams totaling 110 rescue workers were sent out. Their mission was to inspect and manage 240 different spots across the city known to be at risk of flooding. Beyond the immediate rescue efforts, officials took broader steps to ensure public safety. All schools were ordered to close for the day. Court hearings and trials were put on hold. Several entrances and exits to the city’s subway stations were also shut down.
There was a slight caveat for evening classes. If the rainstorm warning was lowered or canceled before 5:00 PM, evening schools would open as usual, unless further announcements were made. All schools were told to have an action plan in place. They also had to make sure teachers were present to look after any students who arrived before being safely sent back home.
Essential services largely continued, even under the severe warning. Public hospitals kept their emergency departments open for those who needed urgent care. However, all welfare agencies across the city temporarily stopped their services while the Black Rainstorm Warning was in place.
This wasn’t Hong Kong’s first dance with extreme rain recently. Just last week, the city experienced a record-breaking amount of rainfall. That event led to the second-longest continuous “Black Rainstorm Warning” in its history, lasting more than eleven hours straight.
Source: SCMP