Man suffers leg injury after lightning strike on Lantau Peak as fluctuating rainstorm warnings force afternoon class suspensions across the city
This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial.
A man has been injured after being struck by lightning while hiking on Lantau Peak during unsettled weather, as rapidly changing rainstorm warnings disrupted afternoon classes across the city.
Police said they received a search and rescue call at about noon on Friday involving one woman and five men hiking along Ngong Ping Road.
One of the men was struck by lightning, sustaining a leg injury. It was not immediately known whether he was taken to hospital.
Shortly after the incident, the Hong Kong Observatory issued a red rainstorm warning at 12.15pm, prompting the suspension of afternoon classes.
The forecaster lifted the amber rainstorm warning at 2pm after switching signals three times within 90 minutes. It first issued the amber signal at 11.50am, replaced it with the red signal at 12.15pm which forced the suspension of afternoon classes, before downgrading it at 1.20pm and eventually cancelling it 50 minutes later.
However, the frequent changes upset some parents and pupils.