There has never been such a rainfall in Hong Kong. The city's observatory reported that 158.1 mm of rain per hour fell on Thursday night in the area affected by the downpour. This is the highest hourly rainfall since records began in 1884, the government said in a news release.

The downpour turned Hong Kong's streets into rushing rivers that swept away cars. Many drivers were forced to spend the night in their vehicles due to the inability to free themselves. Schools were closed and the authorities asked companies operating in the city to allow their employees to stay at home. The underground system was also affected by the flood. Many roads were closed due to the threat of landslides in the mountainous territory, CNN reports.

At the moment it is difficult to talk about the extent of the damage caused by the floods. It is estimated that the torrential downpours across China could last until next week.

Source: CNN.com