Royal - HKU Libraries - The University of Hong Kong

We had a striking example in Hong Kong of the destructivepower of tropical rain on the 28th and 29th of May 1888, whenthere burst upon the island the most terrific storm that hasoccurred in the history of the Colony. Twenty-four inches ofrain fell in twenty-four hours, which was equivalent 230000tons per hour, within the three and a half square miles coveredby the city of Victoria, and equal to twice the average rainfall ofthe whole month. Such a terrific deluge naturally dislodgedenormous quantities of earth and stones, and if we reckon onetenththe weight of the water, this gives over half a million tonsof solid matter carried away and driven down the steep mountainside. What wonder than that fearful havoc was wrought!The new service-reservoir was quickly choked with earth andlarge rocks, and the water poured over the retaining wall like acataract, causing great alarm lest it should burst. But thequantity of solid matter deposited half filled it, thus preventingthat calamity. The tramway line above was, however, cutasunder, and much of the material carried into the reservoir,while the aqueduct was severed in many places, and added itsdeluge of water to the torrent already rushing down into HappyValley, where the rececourse was turned into a lake.The main drains of the city burst, and the roads were torn upand coverted into deep ravines; a few houses also fell, and fivehundred Chinese were rendered homeless. All the streets becamerivers, along which water, bearing earth and stones, rushed withterrific force. Eight men were killed by lightning, and two orthree burried in the debris.At one time great fear was entertained for the safety of thebarracks and other important buildings, but fortunately theywere very solidly constructed, and withstood the strain. Thestorm lasted for thirty-three hours, and the rainfall during thattime of thirty inches was equal to the rainfall of the whole of theBritish Isles in a year. Never will those who witnessed thehavoc made forget it, or cease to reflect on the awful forces ofnature kept in control by Him 'who holds the winds in Hisfists;' and who, if He would, could in a few hours utterlydestroy every thing from the face of the earth.50