Heavy Rainfall Causes Widespread Disruption in Hong Kong and Southern China

On August 5, 2025, heavy rain struck southern China, with significant impacts recorded in cities like Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Shenzhen's meteorological department announced a citywide red rainstorm alert, the first since an earlier warning during Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018. The alert was prompted by a monsoon system that resulted in an average rainfall of 84 millimeters overnight, peaking at 208.3 millimeters. Residents described the flooding as extreme, with reports of water levels surpassing that of vehicle tires.

In response to the flooding, local authorities urged immediate attention to potential disasters such as urban flooding and landslides. A resident named Wu from Shenzhen’s Longgang district expressed disbelief at the severity of the downpour, labeling it the most serious flooding she had encountered in over ten years. Meanwhile, in Huizhou, a neighboring area, classes and business operations were suspended due to the rainstorm warning, with residents advised to stay indoors.

The impact was similarly extreme in Hong Kong, where the observatory issued multiple black rainstorm warnings, indicating harmful levels of rainfall. By the afternoon, the city experienced more than 355 millimeters of rain, breaking historical records for August. Reports of severe flooding emerged, particularly in Yau Yue Wan Village, where parked cars were submerged.

The floods prompted the suspension of postal services in Hong Kong and education measures in Macao, as they too were placed under black rainstorm warnings. Experts emphasized the need for long-term solutions, such as enhancing natural wetlands and improving urban drainage systems, to reduce the risk of flooding in densely populated areas like the Pearl River Delta.