Heavy rain causes six floods across HK; DSD deploys 100 response teams

Severe weather on Thursday caused six flooding incidents across Hong Kong's New Territories, prompting the Drainage Services Department (DSD) to deploy over 100 emergency teams and implement preemptive measures to prevent further disruptions, officials said.

Chief engineer of the Drainage Services Department, Chan Hak-keung, reported that yesterday's severe weather led to six flooding cases, primarily in the New Territories, including San Tin Highway, San Tin Tsuen Road, Pak Heung Tai Wo Tsuen, and Long Tin Road. 

He noted that these locations were not known flooding black spots, but the heavy rain washed in large amounts of mud, leaves, and debris, temporarily blocking drains and inlets. Most cases were resolved within one to two hours.  

Chan stated that following an extreme weather meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki the previous day, the Drainage Services Department immediately inspected and cleared around 240 flood-prone sites across Hong Kong. 

Over 100 emergency response teams were deployed to tackle flooding and unblock drains. 

Additionally, a "timely drainage clearance" arrangement has been implemented in anticipation of further heavy rain, ensuring smooth drainage through preemptive measures alongside emergency response efforts.  

The department emphasized its proactive approach to minimize flood risks amid unstable weather conditions.