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Hong Kong faced a catastrophic deluge as it endured its most severe flooding in 140 years, leaving at least two people dead and 110 injured. Torrential rains began on fall on Thursday night. And the Hong Kong floods set records.

During the downpour, some areas received an astonishing 600 millimeters almost 2 ft of rainfall per hour. This is equivalent to a quarter of the city's annual rainfall.

 The relentless downpour wreaked havoc on city streets, swamping some subway stations and prompting the evacuation of hundreds of residents.

In a press conference on Friday city authorities assessed the extensive damages. And describe the weather event as a "once-every-500-years" storm.

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Hard-hitting Hong Kong floods 

According to Hong Kong Chief Secretary Eric Chan the storm “was so strong and sudden that we were unable to act and issue early warnings as was done with Super Typhoon Saola” that hit the territory a week ago.

Health authorities reported that over 100 people sought treatment at hospitals for injuries sustained during the storm, with four individuals in serious condition due to falls and traffic accidents. Additionally, 325 people found refuge in shelters as their homes were affected by the devastating floods.

Chui Si-kay, acting director of drainage services, reassured the public that the drainage system was functioning, as designed, and capable of withstanding intense storms. He emphasized that the situation on Thursday night was exceptionally extreme.

The record-breaking rains, the heaviest in 140 years, forced the suspension of all school activities for the day and the implementation of working conditions aligned with typhoon signal No. 8, prioritizing the safety of staff.

Widespread Disruptions to city

The storm also led to the closure of border control posts, including Heung Yuen Wai and Man Kam To, along with local immigration offices, public medical centers, and post offices. 

Trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, HKEX, was suspended for the second time in a week, following the earlier disruption caused by Super Typhoon Saola.

The severe flooding triggered a black alert for rainfall. The eastern district of Hong Kong was among the hardest-hit areas, with social media flooded with videos depicting city streets transformed into torrents and residents and vehicles trapped by the raging floodwaters. One subway station was even submerged.

According to the local meteorological observatory, the northern part of the New Territories, including Sheung Shui, Ta Kwu Ling, and Sha Tau Kok, bore the brunt of the heavy rainfall.