The global hub of HONG KONG was brought to a standstill on Friday due to an unprecedented rainfall event.
The stock exchange was closed down and schools and offices were forced to close down, while traffic was negatively impacted due to the flooding caused by record rainfall in Hong Kong and southern China.
The city was hit by a heavy downpour on Thursday night local time (Thursday morning ET), resulting in the death of two individuals and over 100 injuries, according to authorities.
The Hong Kong Observatory reported that the hour between 11 p.m. and midnight saw the highest amount of rain in the history since 1884, with 6.22 inches falling during this time.
For the first time in two years, a “black” warning was issued, lasting over 15 hours from 11:05 p.m. (11:55 am. ET), making it the longest “Black Rainstorm” in the city’s history.
Social media was filled with photos and videos of roads that were flooded, subway lines inundated, and people struggling against the powerful waves.