Typhoon Zita (9715) 20 - 23 August 1997 An area of low pressure intensified into a tropical depression named Zita within 800 km of Hong Kong on the late evening of 20 August. Zita tracked west-northwestwards across the northern part of the South China Sea, intensifying rapidly into a tropical storm the next morning and then a severe tropical storm in the afternoon. Attaining typhoon strength on 22 August, Zita rampaged through Leizhou. In China, a total of 46 people were killed and 541 injured. The economic loss was estimated at US$750.2 million. Zita went on to traverse Beibu Wan and made landfall over northern Vietnam. It dissipated overland on 23 August. In Hong Kong, the Standby Signal No. 1 was hoisted at 11.00 p.m. on 20 August when Zita was about 470 km to the southeast. Under the influence of its outer circulation, northeasterly winds increased gradually in particular over the offshore areas. The Strong Wind Signal No.3 was hoisted at 11.45 a.m. on 21 August. Squally showers became more frequent and winds also turned easterly as Zita came nearer Hong Kong. Zita reached its closest approach at around 5 p.m. that evening when it was about 240 km to the south. At the same time, the lowest hourly sea-level pressure of 999.0 hPa was recorded at the Hong Kong Observatory. Zita then moved away, heading towards the coast of western Guangdong. All tropical cyclone signals were lowered at 9.45 a.m. on 22 August. During the passage of Zita, two people were injured by fallen objects in San Po Kong. In a cargo bay in Sham Shui Po, a container truck operating in strong winds was hit by a steel container. Fortunately, the driver inside was only slightly injured. There were also reports of collapsed scaffoldings on May Road in Mid-levels, Repulse Bay and Chai Wan. Nobody was injured in these incidents. Zita's outer rainbands continued to bring intense squally showers and thunderstorms to Hong Kong on 22 August. The Rainstorm RED Warning was issued at 12.20 p.m. that afternoon. It was replaced by the Rainstorm BLACK Warning at 1.10 p.m. and it remained in force until 4.00 p.m. During this rainstorm the episode, the Hong Kong Observatory recorded the highest hourly rainfall of 68.0 millimeters between 12.00 noon and 1.00 p.m. The heavy rain brought more than 80 cases of flooding and 19 cases of landslides to various parts of Hong Kong. About half of the flooding incidents occurred on Hong Kong Island. Urban Kowloon and the northern New Territories, including Yuen Long, Kam Tin, and Pat Heung, were also seriously affected by floods. In the urban areas, Mongkok was amongst the most affected district where knee-deep floodwater caused traffic chaos and forced many shops and restaurants to close.
