Shenzhen, 8 Sep[tember 2023 (dpa/MIA) - At least two people were killed and more than 100 injured in record rainfall and flooding in Hong Kong, the South China Morning Post newspaper reported on Friday, citing the police.

Hong Kong authorities spoke of "extreme conditions" in a statement on Friday. Schools remained closed and businesses were told to give their employees the day off.

The Hong Kong Observatory registered a new rainfall record for part of the city overnight. At the observatory's headquarters, 158.1 millimetres of rain was recorded in one hour. This is the highest value since records began in 1884.

On Thursday night, the meteorological observatory issued a "black warning," meaning that "heavy rain has fallen or is expected to fall generally over Hong Kong, exceeding 70 millimetres in an hour, and is likely to continue."

The South China Morning Post reported roads that turned into raging rivers while bourse operator HKEX halted the morning session on Friday.

Images of flooded underground car parks and underground railway stations were shared on social media. There were also landslides.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu spoke on Facebook of a "rain of the century" and called on the population to avoid going outside if possible.

Extreme rainfall also occurred in the neighbouring Chinese metropolis of Shenzhen.

Just last weekend, Typhoon Saola hit the region with heavy rain and gale-force winds. Unlike with the current rainstorm, however, the authorities had warned of Saola well in advance.

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