
Rare torrential rain blackened the sky and lashed Hong Kong Saturday morning,
forcing closure of schools and hospitals, submerging vehicles and widely disrupting
traffic in the city.
The Hong Kong Observatory issued an amber rainstorm warning signal at about 5:15 a.m.
Saturday and soon upgraded the warning system at 6:40 a.m. to the highest black
rainstorm warning signal, under which an average rainfall exceeding 70 millimeters per
hour were recorded.
The torrential rains submerged roads in many areas and pedestrians were forced to
wade through the knee-deep water. Firefighters were called to help out stranded
passengers and drivers at Wong Nai Chung Road near the Happy Valley.

