The Hong Kong Observatory issued this year's first Black Rainstorm Warning yesterday (July 29), which lasted for nearly two hours. Hong Kong Island's Eastern District, which was severely affected during the record-breaking black rainstorm in September 2023, faced another test from the heavy rainfall this time, with hourly rainfall exceeding 150 millimeters at one point.
Yiu Hing Road, where a landslide occurred during the previous disaster, saw a massive "waterfall" this time, while three notorious flooding hotspots—the roundabout on Chai Wan Road, the steep incline of Chai Wan Road, and the parking lot of Wan Tsui Estate—experienced varying degrees of flooding again.
However, thanks to drainage improvement projects implemented by the government over the past two years and the swift response of departments—including the first-ever deployment of the new pumping robots during a Black Rainstorm to enhance emergency capabilities—floodwaters receded within one to two hours, ensuring traffic and residents' daily routines were restored as quickly as possible. An inspection by the Geotechnical Engineering Office confirmed that the incline above Yiu Hing Road, which had been reinforced two years ago, remained intact.
The Security Bureau activated the Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre yesterday morning to respond to the heavy rainstorm, quickly coordinating emergency measures. The Drainage Services Department's Emergency Control Centre dispatched over 120 emergency response teams to inspect around 240 flood-prone locations across the city and clear blocked drains, confirming eight flooding cases. The Department also sent emergency teams to handle the situations on-site.
"Waterfall" on Yiu Hing Road without severe flooding
A reporter from Wen Wei Po surveyed flood-prone areas in the Eastern District yesterday. At Yiu Hing Road in Shau Kei Wan, where a landslide occurred during the record-breaking rainstorm in September 2023, the government had spent months repairing drainage channels on the slope, redirecting overflow from the upper water diversion channels to lower areas to reduce the impact of rainwater on the hillside.
During yesterday's Black Rainstorm, although a "waterfall" appeared on the slope of Yiu Hing Road, the hillside remained stable, and the floodwaters draining onto the road did not cause severe flooding, with minimal impact on traffic.
The Civil Engineering and Development Department stated that according to rain gauge data from the Geotechnical Engineering Office, the average rainfall in Shau Kei Wan over two hours yesterday morning was 152 millimeters, only about 45 millimeters short of the area's historical record (197.5 millimeters recorded on September 8, 2023). Geotechnical engineers visually confirmed in the morning that there was no immediate risk of landslides on the upper slope. Afternoon, drones were used to collect environmental data from the slope and surrounding areas, with preliminary results showing no significant abnormalities on the upper slope or nearby natural hillsides.
At the Chai Wan Road roundabout, which was ravaged by flash floods two years ago, a similar situation occurred yesterday, with torrents rushing down from Lin Shing Road. However, the flooded area at the roundabout was not extensive, with water only reaching calf height. Drainage Services Department personnel arrived promptly to clear the blockage, quickly improving the flooding situation.
The Drainage Services Department noted that in response to the extreme rainstorm in September 2023, it had reviewed the causes of flooding at the Chai Wan Road roundabout and completed several minor projects, including constructing a new 300-meter-long, 1.65-meter-diameter drainage pipeline on Fei Tsui Road, adding collection channels along the road, and building a temporary underground stormwater pumping station and additional inlets at the roundabout garden. These measures effectively diverted and alleviated flooding.
Steep incline on Chai Wan Road flooded, but quickly pumped
Legislative Council member Edward Leung and his Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong team inspected high-risk flooding spots yesterday morning.
At the Wan Tsui Estate parking lot, floodwaters reached calf height. Leung requested the Drainage Services Department's assistance in pumping out the water to prevent worsening conditions, which the department promptly addressed.
The four high-performance drainage robots introduced this year played a crucial role in responding to yesterday's Black Rainstorm. Emergency teams deployed the robots to pump out floodwaters, clearing the parking lot within an hour. On the steep incline of Chai Wan Road, flash floods caused water accumulation that blocked traffic, but the robots efficiently drained the water.
In an interview with Wen Wei Po, Leung noted that while the Chai Wan Road roundabout and Wan Tsui Estate parking lot experienced flooding during the Black Rainstorm, the situation had significantly improved compared to the past, reflecting the effectiveness of the government's post-2023 rainstorm improvement projects and emergency measures.
Leung praised the government departments for their faster response this time, with Drainage Services emergency teams quickly arriving to address flooding and restore traffic and daily life as soon as possible. He expressed gratitude to all frontline workers who remained at their posts during the storm, safeguarding community safety.
(Source: Wen Wei Po; Journalist: Xiao; English Editor: Darius)
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