Schools and kindergartens across Shenzhen are suspended today, while Luohu District that was hit hardest by downpours since last night has halted work and other business activities as the red alert for rainstorms remains effective.

Shenzhen was pounded last night by the heaviest downpours since 2008, recording an average rainfall of 202.8 millimeters from 5 p.m. yesterday to 6 a.m. today. According to the observatory, the rainstorms were brought by Typhoon Haikui that has wrecked havoc in eastern Guangdong and neighboring Fujian Province.

Currently, the red alert for rainfall remains effective in the districts of Luohu, Nanshan, Futian, Yantian, Bao’an, Guangming, Longhua and Longgang, while an orange alert is in effect in other areas.

Red alert for heavy rainstorms remains effective in Shenzhen's Luohu, Nanshan, Futian, Longgang, Longhua, Bao'an and Guangming District as of 11:04 am today. Meteorological Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality

Residents are reminded to stay vigilant and avoid going outdoors unless for essential purposes as heavy rains are expected to continue affecting Shenzhen today. Rainfalls are also forecast for the weekend. 

Several sections of the city's Metro network, including the Gangxia-Luohu section of Metro Line 1, the Civic Center-Yantian Road section of Lines 2 and 8,  the Futian Bonded Zone-Shuibei section of Line 3, the Buxin-Huangbeiling section of Line 5, and the Yinhu-Wenjin section of Line 9, have suspended service. Other sections of the Metro network remain operational with train intervals between six to eight minutes. 

In terms of transportation on the ground, all buses, taxis (including cars providing ride-hailing services) and other vehicles would not be able to enter Shenzhen Railway Station in Luohu District before 12 p.m. today as the station's basement floor has been flooded. 

The Donghu Subdistrict in Luohu District reported the heaviest rainfall of 469 millimeters from 5 p.m. yesterday to 6 a.m. today, while Luohu had 380.8 millimeters of rain districtwide. Six other districts except Nanshan, Dapeng, Pingshan and Shenshan Special Cooperation Zone all reported rainfalls of more than 250 millimeters during the period of time.

Citizens are advised to pay close attention to road information as public transportation passing by certain road sections in the city, especially in Luohu, Yantian and Longgang districts, may not operate normally due to the weather. 

Guangzhou Railway Group Corp. suspended 43 round-trip intercity trains between Shenzhen and Guangzhou including 19 trains departing from Shenzhen Railway Station and 24 departing from Guangzhou Railway Station and Guangzhou East Railway Station.

Shenzhen Railway Station and Shenzhen East Railway Station suspend four trains, namely K486 to Chengdu, T398 to Qingdao, Z230 to Xining and K570 to Qiqihar.

Separately, customs clearance services at Liantang and Wenjindu checkpoints in Luohu District have been suspended until further notice.

The heavy rainfall since yesterday afternoon has flooded the underground equipment rooms of the two checkpoints, causing damages to some facilities and equipment.

During the suspension of service, vehicles supplying live and fresh food to Hong Kong will be diverted to Huanggang Checkpoint. Other goods vehicles may be diverted to Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint. Minibuses can use Huanggang and Shenzhen Bay checkpoints instead.