As temperatures rose to 37 degrees Celsius in some parts of Hong Kong yesterday, at least seven hikers were reported to have suffered from heatstroke, including a 19-year-old man whose condition is reported to be critical.
The teen, a rising second year student at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) surnamed Si, was hiking in Sheung Shui with his girlfriend when he fainted at around 11:38am, HK01 reports. Si was taken to North District Hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
Later, two more hikers — a 22-year-old man and 81-year-old man — were sent to Alice Ho Ming Liu Nethersole Hospital and Tuen Mun Hospital for heatstroke in serious and stable condition, respectively.
The Very Hot Weather Warning was in force from Friday until late last night. While the signal is in force, the government advises citizens to avoid vigorous exercise and prolonged outdoor activities such as hiking or trekking, wear loose and light-colored clothing to reduce heat absorption, and use broad-spectrum sunscreen.
According to the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO), temperatures of 36 degrees were recorded in sixteen areas — including Tuen Mun — while seven districts, including Sheung Shui and Sai Kung, reached a whopping 37 degrees. At one point, the heat at Chek Lap Kok, where the city’s only airport is situated, reached 37.7 degrees, matching the highest temperature recorded there in August 2015.
According to a statement from the HKO yesterday, the heat was the result of a continental airstream influenced by Typhoon Nestat and Tropical Storm Haitang, which also brought “serious” levels of pollution in many parts of Hong Kong. “The weather is very hot with moderate west to northwesterly winds. Light winds hinder the dispersion of air pollutants formed during [Saturday] and led to higher than normal pollution level in the morning,” the observatory said.
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