Hong Kong was affected by the outer rainbands of Tropical Cyclone Podul and the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal was issued this morning, with flooding occurring in multiple districts due to heavy rain.

The Government said relevant departments were fully engaged in response and recovery efforts, striving to minimise the impact of the adverse weather on the public, and provided appropriate support to citizens in need.

Its Emergency Monitoring & Support Centre began operating upon the issuance of the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal this morning.

Directorate officers from relevant departments closely monitored the situation in real time across various districts, co-ordinating efforts to address flooding, landslides, fallen trees and road blockages.

The Drainage Services Department (DSD) has been maintaining close liaison with the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) as it made preparations. The DSD activated the Emergency Control Centre at 6.35am and deployed 110 emergency response teams, involving about 410 personnel and several powerful pumping robots.

The teams handled requests for assistance from the public and flooding cases, conducted repeated inspections and carried out necessary clearance at about 240 locations prone to flooding due to blockages.

As of 5pm, six flooding cases were confirmed and all of them were resolved within one to two hours. The affected roads have resumed normal operation.

The Geotechnical Engineering Office's (GEO) Emergency Control Centre was activated soon after the HKO issued a landslip warning. As of 6pm, a total of three reports of landslides were received in Ap Lei Chau, Tsuen Wan and Lantau. Inspections were arranged.

Flooding and fallen trees were found at roads near the West New Territories Landfill and Tsang Tsui Columbarium in Tuen Mun during the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal. The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has arranged workers to carry out clearance of the blocked storm water drains and remove fallen trees promptly.

The EPD’s North Lantau Transfer Station at Sham Shui Kok was also affected by the rainstorm and part of it experienced flooding. A temporary arrangement was made to allow single-lane and two-way traffic at its weighbridge. The department carried out inspections on the drainage channels and deployed additional pumps, which have facilitated the station to resume normal operation promptly.

The Fire Services Department, by 2pm today, handled a total of 13 reports of people trapped in lifts, 36 reports from automatic fire alarm systems, six reports of fallen trees, one report of landslides, and four reports of flooding incidents.

The Highways Department’s Urban & New Territories Emergency Control Centres were promptly activated after the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal was in force this morning to co-ordinate the handling of road emergencies, including collaborating with the GEO to clear debris at a landslide location in Southern District.

The department also collaborated with the DSD to quickly clear roadside gullies blocked by muddy water and debris in various districts where flooding occurred, with affected road sections reopened immediately afterwards.

The Transport Department's Emergency Transport Coordination Centre (ETCC) escalated its operational level when the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal was in force to closely monitor the traffic and transport conditions of important routes, including trunk roads, tunnels and bridges across the city.

The ETCC expedited assessment of the impact of the rainstorm on traffic and maintains close liaison with relevant departments and public transport operators to steer and co-ordinate public transport services.

During the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal, frontline police officers remained steadfast in carrying out their duties, including cordoning off high-risk areas and evacuating stranded citizens. They also closely monitored traffic conditions, handled vehicles trapped by flooding and cleared blocked drains to ensure a smooth traffic flow.

The Home Affairs Department opened a total of 11 temporary shelters for people in need. Its Emergency Co-ordination Centre began operation promptly to co-ordinate work and information dissemination in 18 districts as well as promptly follow-up on various incident reports.

District offices immediately initiated relevant response measures, including co-ordinating with other departments and organisations to provide support. They have also mobilised District Council members, members of "the three committees" and Care Teams to disseminate the latest weather information to residents in flood-prone areas.

The Housing Department's (HD) Communication Centre was activated during the rainstorm period. As of 4pm, it received 13 enquiries from residents, which were given assistance swiftly.

During the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal, the HD received five reports of rainwater surging from slopes or channels near its construction sites. The project teams responded swiftly and, under safe conditions, arranged for workers to assist in draining the water into nearby manholes to prevent overflow onto the roads.