Streets submerged as highest rainfall in 140 yrs batters HK

HONG Kong was flooded by the heaviest rainfall in nearly 140 years on Friday, leaving the city's streets and some subway stations under water and forcing its schools to close.

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Just across the border, authorities in China's tech hub Shenzhen recorded the heaviest rains since 1952.

Climate change has increased the intensity of tropical storms, experts say, with more rain and stronger gusts leading to flash floods and coastal damage.

The heavy rains in Hong Kong started on Thursday and in the hour leading up to midnight, the city's weather observatory recorded hourly rainfall of 158.1 millimetres at its headquarters, the highest since records began in 1884.

On Friday afternoon, the Hospital Authority said at least 110 people were hospitalised due to injuries, with four in serious condition.