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The truth behind the raging floods: Is the release of water from the Shenzhen reservoir really related to the disaster in Hong Kong?
On the evening of September 7, 2023, Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta region were once again hit by a heavy rainstorm, causing severe flooding and landslides. Four people were killed and dozens injured. The series of incidents have raised questions about the government's response, and whether the release of water from Shenzhen reservoirs is actually related to the disaster in Hong Kong has become a hot topic.
Historical background
Two days before this disaster, Typhoon Haikui made landfall in China's Fujian Province on September 5, then moved toward Guangdong Province and stayed over the Pearl River Delta for more than two days. As the low-pressure trough of Hainan interacts with the southern monsoon, extreme rainfall began in the Pearl River Delta region since the night of September 7. According to data from the Hong Kong Observatory, more than 70 millimeters of rain had been recorded in Sha Tau Kok in the North District at 7 p.m. that night. An hour later, the Observatory issued a flood warning for the Northern District, and continued to upgrade the warning over the next half hour, finally issuing a black rainstorm warning at 11:05, the first time in two years that the highest warning was issued.
Impact
Under the influence of rainfall, Hong Kong's subway and shopping malls were severely flooded, and many vehicles were trapped in the water. Especially in parts of Mong Kok and the New Territories, the water was chest deep, forcing residents to evacuate urgently.
The storm also triggered landslides in many places, especially in Shau Kei Wan, where boulders rolled down and covered the road, with up to three meters of mud and rocks blocking the driving channel. Near the Hongshan Peninsula in the luxury villa area, as the soil slipped away, illegal structures in the area were also exposed.
Controversy
Reservoir water release problem
At the height of the flood situation, the Hong Kong government issued a statement at 12:15 a.m. on September 8, confirming that the Shenzhen reservoir would begin releasing water at midnight, and pointed out that this may cause flooding in some areas of the New Territories. Secretary for Home Affairs Tang Bingqiang said that the widespread flooding in this disaster "does not appear to be directly related to the water releases in Shenzhen". However, villagers living near the Shenchuan River were faced with waist-deep water inundating their houses and could not help but question the official statement.
Criticism of government response
As the floods continued into the morning of September 8, the government announced the closure of all schools in Hong Kong, but the response to labor was only a reminder rather than a mandatory shutdown, which aroused public dissatisfaction. Initially, the government described the rainfall as a "once-in-a-hundred-year" event, but later adjusted it to a "once-in-five-hundred-year event", causing an uproar among the public and widely seen as an attempt to shirk responsibility.
Many observers expressed disappointment with the speed and effectiveness of the government's response, calling it "too little, too late." Legislative Council members and analysts have called on the government to conduct a thorough review of the emergency response system.
Thinking about the future
This disaster reflects multiple issues, including climate change, the vulnerability of urban construction, and the government's emergency response capabilities. In the face of frequent extreme weather events, is Hong Kong's infrastructure sufficient to withstand more possible natural disasters in the future?
