Authorities say flooding will hit low-lying areas such as Lei Yue Mun in eastern Kowloon, Tai O on Lantau Island and Tai Po in New Territories
Shopkeepers in Hong Kong’s flood-prone areas have taken pre-emptive measures to protect themselves against the approaching Super Typhoon Ragasa, while more than 100 households in Tai O have been evacuated as the government stepped up efforts to minimise potential damage.
Authorities warned on Monday that severe flooding would hit low-lying areas such as Lei Yue Mun in eastern Kowloon, Tai O on western Lantau Island and Tai Po in the eastern New Territories as Ragasa – a Filipino word meaning “rapid” or “fast action” – approached Hong Kong.
The government moved a robotic “water-pumping dragon” into Lei Yue Mun on Monday morning and made 40,000 sandbags available around the city – four times more than during previous typhoons.
Islands district council member Ho Siu-kei, who is also chairman of the Tai O rural committee, said more than 100 households in Tai O had been moved into temporary shelters with the help of about 80 volunteers, committee staff and members of the government’s community care team.
