Hong Kong hoists black rain signal, shuts schools as city braces for severe flooding

HONG KONG, June 18 — Hong Kong’s observatory raised its highest black ‌rain signal today at 12.55pm local time (0455 GMT/12.55pm Malaysian time), prompting schools to close and some businesses to halt, ‌as it asked residents to take shelter and be on guard for severe flooding.

Heavy rain exceeding 70 millimetres in an hour is likely to continue, the observatory said on its website. It is the second time the black warning signal has been hoisted this year; the first occurred more than a week ago ‌on June 8.

The financial hub, along with ⁠much of southern China, ⁠has been soaked for several ⁠days now due to ⁠an active ⁠southwest monsoon and a lingering trough of low pressure.

Intense gusts may continue to affect Hong ⁠Kong, with wind strength of around 80km per hour recorded in the city’s south-western district of Tai O, the observatory said.

It comes ahead of the Dragon Boat Festival ⁠tomorrow, which gives residents a three-day weekend, when many are expected to travel.

Authorities across the border ⁠in Shenzhen, mainland China, hoisted the red rain signal ⁠and ⁠urged residents to stay away from low-lying, waterlogged and what it called “other dangerous areas.”

There was an increased ‌risk of mountain floods, landslides and other disasters, they said. — Reuters