Workers clean mud after flood waters receded in Wun Yiu, Tai Po Friday. The district had been heavily damaged in what was described as the worst flooding in three decades. Edmond Tang / China Daily

Upstream dam construction not responsible for deluge that swept NT village Thursday

The flash flood that swept down on a New Territories village Thursday night was set off by boulders blocking a river channel below Tai Mo Shan, during a torrential downpour.

Villagers said the storm came suddenly and within minutes water had reached the ceilings of some houses. Many villagers were forced to climb to rooftops to await rescue by firemen and crews from the government flying service.

Tai Mo Shan is steep and according to K.K. Lau, director of Drainage Services, Thursday's rain was extremely heavy, causing rapid flows and forcing stones down from higher elevations. Boulders weighing over 2.5 tons, were left blocking the river's main stream, setting off the overflow of its tributary.

Residents of the village immediately pointed fingers at construction work underway on a dam upstream from the village on one of two branches of the river. Lau, however, denied this. "The project had already made a flood-discharge tunnel," he said.

"But we will look into the design to see if there is any mistake. If the project contractor should take part of the responsibility, their insurance should cover the villagers' claims for compensation," Lau said.

"The dam is not completed," he added. "It was also damaged by the flood. Otherwise it should be more boulder-proof." He suggested it is possible that a larger dam may be required.

The project contractor started clearing work on Friday.

Police Friday recovered the body of a 53-year-old villager swept away by the flood. Marine police found the body of the man whose surname was Lam in Tolo harbor around noon Friday, about three kilometers away from his village. The man's family gathered to mourn him Friday afternoon.

The village itself was heavily damaged in what was described as the worst flooding in three decades. A black rain alert preceded the flood. Then came the freshet from Tai Mo Shan.

By the time flood waters had receded on Friday morning, the village remained covered in mud. The access road to the village was blocked, so were roads inside the community. Furniture and electrical equipment in many of the houses had been swamped by dead wood, sticks and grass.

Lau said the priority now is to clean the waterway to improve drainage, preventing further floods. He appealed to residents to take photos of the scene to support compensation claims in the future.

Tsang Tak-sing, Secretary for Home Affairs, visited the village late Friday afternoon. "I am very sad about the disaster," he said. "I express deep condolences to the families. We will investigate the reason for this flood."

Social workers are helping the victims. Tsang has established a disaster relief fund to support the village residents. Two families have applied for the fund.

Thirty-five residents of the community from 16 families were taken to temporary shelters.

China Daily

(HK Edition 07/24/2010 page1)