Record Rainfall Unleashes Chaos on Hong Kong and Pearl River Delta
Hong Kong faced its highest August rainfall since 1884, leading to closed schools, hospitals, and courts. The extreme weather, linked to climate change, also threatens significant economic losses in China. The Greater Bay Area experienced flight cancellations and travel disruptions while dealing with rising waters and a stalled East Asian monsoon.
Hong Kong experienced its wettest August day since 1884, with 350mm of rain by 2 p.m., causing significant disruptions across the city. Schools, hospitals, and courts were forced to close amid the deluge, with rainfall breaking into streams down Hong Kong's steep terrains.
Medical facilities announced shutdowns as water rose to ankle-height outside major hospitals. Meteorologists attribute the severe weather and dangerous flooding, leading to fatalities and economic threats, to climate change.
The torrential rains followed flash floods in southern China, worsening an atmospheric standoff from a stalled monsoon. Travel and trade disruptions occurred in the Greater Bay Area, yet the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and Disneyland remained operational despite the gloomy forecast.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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