Hong Kong hit by flooding after flurry of rainstorm warnings

Hong Kong: Parts of Hong Kong were brought to a standstill by flooding caused by heavy rains on Tuesday, after the highest tier rainstorm warning was...

Hong Kong: Parts of Hong Kong were brought to a standstill by flooding caused by heavy rains on Tuesday, after the highest-tier rainstorm warning was issued for the fourth time in eight days.

The city logged its highest daily rainfall in August since records began in 1884, at just over 355 millimetres recorded at the Hong Kong weather observatory's headquarters at 2:00 pm (0600 GMT).

The financial hub has suspended school classes and opened temporary shelters, and some hospital services such as outpatient clinics have also been affected.

The observatory said the "black" rainstorm warning -- meaning downpours exceeding 70 millimetres in an hour -- would remain in force at least until 5:00 pm. It was hoisted late on Monday and again in the pre-dawn hours.

More than 9,600 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes were recorded between 5:00 am and noon, according to the observatory.