Latest news with #DrainageServicesDepartment
HKFP
4 hours ago
- Climate
- HKFP
Heavy downpour cascades down hillside during Hong Kong's first Black Rainstorm of the year
Heavy rainfall on Monday morning cascaded down the hillside, creating multiple waterfalls that flooded pedestrian walkways and roads during Hong Kong's first Black Rainstorm of the year. The city's highest rainstorm warning was issued at 9.10am on Monday, with the Observatory reporting over 100 millimetres of rain falling within an hour. In less than two hours, the authorities lowered the warning to Red at 11.05am and downgraded it to Amber at 11.45am. Rain was especially heavy in the Eastern and Southern Districts. Authorities warned of landslide risks and urged the public to stay clear of slopes. A video circulating online showed water cascading down the hillside of Yiu Hing Road near Yiu Tung Estate in Shau Kei Wan, flooding roads and pedestrian walkways. Other footage showed severe flooding in Shek O, while photos depicted a car park in Chai Wan's Wan Tsui Estate covered in water. As of 11.30am, the Drainage Services Department reported five flooding incidents at the Chai Wan Road roundabout; the roundabout near South Bay Road in Repulse Bay; Stanley Village Road; Big Wave Bay Village; and Wang Long Village on Lamma Island. Showers were also intense over Lamma Island, due to strong thunderstorms within a broad trough of low pressure, the Observatory added. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 不專業天文台 | Follow now! (@nonproweather) Residents are advised to stay indoors and avoid travelling until the warning is lifted and road conditions improve. The Observatory also urged vigilance against flash flooding. The MTR temporarily closed several station exits because of the rainstorm: Exit A2 at Sham Shui Po, Exit B3 at Wong Tai Sin, and Exit A1 at Choi Hung. Citybus reported overall normal service, though some routes to Shek O, Stanley, Tai Tam, and Sai Kung faced traffic delays and flooding. Temporary shelters have been opened for those in need of emergency accommodation. Child care centres, elderly service centres, vocational rehabilitation centres, and other facilities operated by the Social Welfare Department will remain open. The Judiciary announced that all court and tribunal hearings scheduled after 9.10am were adjourned. As the Black Rainstorm warning remained in effect at 11am, hearings were postponed for the remainder of the day. The Department of Health said government clinics would stay open as long as possible to assist patients already present. Those unable to attend their appointments are advised to reschedule once the warning has been lifted. The Education Bureau announced the suspension of all evening school classes. Classes already in session in the morning and whole-day schools should continue until the end of the school day. Schools are advised to ensure conditions are safe before allowing students to return home.
RTHK
5 hours ago
- Climate
- RTHK
Chai Wan flooded amid torrential rain
Chai Wan flooded amid torrential rain Water was seen bursting out of a manhole near a roundabout at Chai Wan Road. Photo: RTHK Chai Wan was hit by torrential downpours and floods as heavy rain pounded the city on Tuesday, with the observatory issuing the first Black Rainstorm Warning Signal of the year. Water was seen bursting out of a manhole near a roundabout at Chai Wan Road. The Drainage Services Department recorded water levels of up to 370 millimetres nearby. A domestic worker, Rose, told RTHK she struggled to get a taxi to take two children to a nearby church school. "This morning, we were about to take a taxi to the other side, but the taxi driver said he could not take us that way because it was flooded. So we had to walk here to the MTR station," she said. "We took a taxi but we took so long to get a taxi... I think the taxi took another way to avoid the flood." Another Chai Wan resident, surnamed Pang, said she hadn't seen such severe flooding at the roundabout since two years ago when a "once-in-500-years rainstorm" hit the territory. "But I wasn't really affected by the floods because I could use the footbridge above. I think it's the vehicles that were impacted the most," she said. Zareenah Ho, an Eastern district councillor, said she believed the flooding at the roundabout on Tuesday caused minimal disturbance as not many cars were on the road. She said public housing estates such as Hing Wah Estate and Siu Sai Wan Estate had been affected the most. "It is just behind the hill. The impact is more. Last time [when Typhoon Wipha hit], the wind direction was not attacking the Chai Wan area. But this time, the heavy rain is very focused in the Chai Wan area and Sai Kung area, so the impact is more serious," Ho said. Heavy rain also led to flooding at an underground car park at Wan Tsui Estate and left vehicles submerged, similar to what happened during severe weather conditions in 2023. "This is the second time this happened in this car park. First time, I lost a HK$100,000 car. This time, I bought my car five days ago, the same [thing happened]," car owner Zohaib said. A resident surnamed Chow said he managed to move his vehicle out of the car park in the morning after receiving a text message. "In the past, they would call us to warn that the car park was flooded and tell us to move our cars, but usually the warning came very late. This time, at least, there was a message notification, which is better," he said.
RTHK
21-07-2025
- Climate
- RTHK
Checks across city continue in Wipha aftermath: CS
Checks across city continue in Wipha aftermath: CS Hong Kong saw more than 700 reports of fallen trees and seven flooding cases as Wipha moved across the city. File photo: RTHK Efforts from government departments were underway across town to deal with the aftermath of Typhoon Wipha, Chief Secretary Eric Chan said on Monday. Strong winds and heavy rain from Wipha pounded the city, with the Hurricane Signal No 10 in force for nearly seven hours on Sunday. "While the storm gradually moved away from Hong Kong, various departments have not been relaxed," Chan wrote on social media. "Different teams have launched a new round of special inspections, including carefully checking roadside trees, external walls, signboards, slopes and construction sites, and removing dangerous structure one by one, to ensure the safety of residents." Chan noted that he had chaired an interdepartmental meeting to ensure all relevant departments made early preparations to deal with potential threats. "During the storm, there were more than 700 fallen tree reports across Hong Kong. The Drainage Services Department also received seven cases of flooding. All of which were handled swiftly," he said. Chan also expressed his gratitude to those who "stayed on duty" during Wipha's arrival for their unremitting efforts in helping the city weather the storm safely.
RTHK
21-07-2025
- Climate
- RTHK
Hong Kong largely unscathed from impact of Wipha
Hong Kong largely unscathed from impact of Wipha Authorities said there were over 700 reports of fallen trees across Hong Kong. Photo: RTHK Hong Kong appears to have escaped relatively unscathed after Typhoon Wipha hit the territory on Sunday, prompting the Observatory to issue the Number 10 Hurricane Signal for the first time since September 2023. The Observatory cancelled all tropical cyclone warning signals at 5.10 am on Monday, saying with Wipha continuing to depart from Hong Kong, local winds had further subsided. The Drainage Services Department said there were seven cases of flooding during the typhoon in Tai Po, Wong Tai Sin, Sai Kung, Yau Tong, and on two sections of Lung Cheung Road. It said all had been resolved. The department also said there were no landslides, and no reports of flooding in Tai Po Market, where a storm surge could have resulted in a rise in sea levels. Meanwhile, the Government's 1823 Call Centre and the Fire Services Department said they had received reports of over 700 fallen trees. There were also reports of collapsed scaffolding on Choi Hung Road, Wah King Street near Wah Fu Estate, Siu San Wan Road, and at private housing estates on Cloud View Road, and Tin Hau Temple Road. A government spokesman said departments had started checking roadside trees, structures, slopes and construction sites once the Strong Wind Signal No.3 replaced the No.8 signal at 7.40 pm Sunday.
RTHK
20-07-2025
- Climate
- RTHK
T3 to stay until Wipha's threat drops further
T3 to stay until Wipha's threat drops further The government has confirmed six cases of flooding and hundreds of fallen tree reports. Photo: RTHK The Strong Wind Signal No. 3 is expected to remain in force for some time until the threat posed by Typhoon Wipha is further reduced, the Observatory said on Sunday. The forecaster said Wipha had moved further away from Hong Kong and local winds were expected to weaken as it issued the No. 3 alert at 7.40pm. But it warned that strong winds still prevailed over many places. "The Strong Wind Signal No. 3 is expected to remain in force for some time," the Observatory said. "When the threat posed to Hong Kong by Wipha is further reduced, the Observatory will issue the Standby Signal No. 1 or replace the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal by the Strong Monsoon Signal." The Drainage Services Department confirmed six cases of flooding in Kowloon and the New Territories, and deployed 90 emergency response teams to conduct inspection and handle cases. There were more than 470 reports of fallen trees in total. The Hospital Authority said as of 4pm, 26 people had sought medical treatment at the accident and emergency departments at public hospitals. With the weather starting to stabilise, public transport services gradually resumed across town. All MTR rail lines have started running, while daytime routes of Kowloon Motor Bus and Citybus began resuming from 8pm. People could start taking cross-harbour ferries again as early as 9pm, and trips to and from outlying islands would resume shortly after.
