The international financial center of Hong Kong was hit by the worst rainfall today that have ever been recorded since systematic weather records began in 1884, resulting in flooding and many transportation and communication problems before a hurricane had even passed a week.

The neighboring Chinese metropolis of Shenzhen was hit simultaneously from yesterday Thursday the worst rainfall on record since 1952, according to state media.

The region was faced with extreme weather conditions and record temperatures in the summer, phenomena that scientists stress are exacerbated by climate change.

The Hong Kong Observatory, the metropolis’ weather service, reported 158.1mm of rainfall between 11pm and midnight alone [σ.σ. τοπικές ώρες· από τις 18:00 ως τις 19:00 χθες Πέμπτη ώρες Ελλάδας].

So far, authorities have not reported any casualties.

They announced that schools will remain closed today “due to extreme conditions”, as is part of the customs service at the Hong Kong – Shenzhen border.

The latter, home to China’s biggest tech names, has 17.7 million inhabitants.

According to the Hong Kong authorities, the Shenzhen authorities are considering to to release quantities of water from reservoirs of the megalopolis, which if it goes ahead there is a risk to cause flooding in the northern part of the semi-autonomous region.

Hong Kong’s subway operator said it had shut down part of the network – at least one of the lines – because a station was flooded. On social networking sites, users uploaded footage showing a train not stopping at Wong Tai Shin station, where the platform was covered by water. Water also entered other stations.

On the roads, vehicles and buses were submerged in water about halfway up.

According to the Hong Kong observatory, the torrential rains are due in a “Haikui Remnant” barometric lowthe typhoon that hit Taiwan earlier in the week, injuring around a hundred people, uprooting trees and damaging roads, before heading toward southern China, downgraded to a storm.

Two typhoons hit southern China over the weekend, one behind the other: Shaola and Haikui.

Climate change is increasing the intensity of tropical storms, which now bring greater amounts of rain and stronger wind gusts and cause flash floods and damage to coastal areas, experts note.

At the other end of the country, the capital Beijing saw the heaviest rainfall in 140 years in late July and early August, with the neighboring province of Hebei being particularly hard hit. These rains resulted in dozens of people losing their lives and causing extensive material damage.