Hong Kong emergency crews worked all night using special robots called “water-pumping dragons” to help with flooding in the northern New Territories.
Heavy rain caused a red rainstorm warning early Thursday morning. The red warning was issued at 2:40am, after an amber warning that had started at 9pm on Wednesday and a flooding alert for the northern New Territories. The red warning was changed to amber at 5:15am and was completely lifted by 9:30am, along with the flooding alert.
The Hong Kong Observatory said heavy showers and squally thunderstorms associated with upper-air disturbances were persistently affecting the vicinity of the Pearl River Estuary.
More than 50mm of rain fell across many areas in the morning, exceeding 100mm in Tsuen Wan, Kwai Tsing, Tai Po and Sai Kung, the forecaster said.
“With the upper-air disturbances departing from the coastal areas, showers will ease off and the weather will improve [on Friday],” the forecaster said.
Videos and pictures circulating on social media platform Threads show a KMB double-decker ploughing through severe flooding along Ping Che Road in Fanling.
The water level rose so high it nearly reached the vehicle’s floorboards, causing muddy floodwater to surge into the lower deck. A woman was seen taking off her shoes and opening her umbrella before stepping out of the vehicle into the deep floodwater.
A private car and a New Territories taxi were also spotted half-submerged in floodwaters, with firefighters standing by at the scene.
The Drainage Services Department said it had dispatched more than 60 emergency response teams to clear flooded areas.
It recorded seven flooding cases across the New Territories as of 5am, including Tai Tau Leng Roundabout, Fan Kam Road, Ping Che in Fanling and Fanling Highway.
Kwu Tung, the Po Shek Wu pedestrian subway on Choi Yuen Road in Sheung Shui, and Shek Kong Airfield Road were also affected.
“All locations have been cleared by the Drainage Services Department’s emergency response teams, with the help of high-capacity drainage robots known as ‘water-pumping dragons’,” a department spokesman said.
“As the weather remains unstable, the department will continue to work closely with the Observatory and the Highways Department, remain on high alert, and quickly dispatch emergency teams to handle any further flooding.”
