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Extreme weather

Extreme weather
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Extreme weather. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
A police car is seen parked across a closed road as stormy seas pound the coastline of Owhiro Bay, a suburb of New Zealand’s capital Wellington, on Tuesday. Photo: AFP
New Zealand

Storm cuts off New Zealand’s capital as flights and ferries cancelled

A state of emergency has been declared for ‌parts of Wellington as the weather bureau warned of waves up to ⁠nine metres.

Hong Kong weather

Hong Kong cancels all rainstorm warnings after issuing first black alert of 2026

Hong Kong weather

Hong Kong cancels all rainstorm warnings but showers, thunderstorms to persist

South Korea

Young South Koreans embrace ‘plogging’ to cope with climate anxiety

‘Plogging’ – a mix of the Swedish phrase for ‘picking up’ and the English word ‘jogging’ – has become a hot activity for eco-anxious youth.

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Young people join a domestic travel and plogging crew organised by Good Choice Company. Photo: Instagram/goodchoice_official
Japan

Typhoon Jangmi churns along Japan’s Pacific coast, leaves dozens hurt

Heavy rain continued in the Tokyo metropolitan area in the morning, with flood danger warnings for several rivers in the capital.

Hong Kong transport

More Hong Kong airlines cancel flights as Typhoon Jangmi bears down on Tokyo

Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Airlines and Greater Bay Airlines cancel, reschedule flights as Typhoon Jangmi batters Japan.

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Climate change

Letters | In age of climate whiplash, Asian solutions need philanthropic support

Readers discuss how philanthropy can respond to Asia’s climate challenges, the mismatch between Hong Kong’s ride-hailing cap and the reality of gig work, and the data centre rush.

People wade through floodwaters in Nha Trang in Vietnam’s coastal province of Khanh Hoa on November 20, 2025. Photo: AFP
Climate change

‘On our doorstep’: UN warns world to prepare for El Nino extreme weather

UN chief warns that the phenomenon, expected within months, will ‘pour fuel on the fire’ of global heating.

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Hong Kong transport

HK Express cancels 6 Hong Kong-Okinawa flights as Typhoon Jangmi nears Japan

Airline says special ticket arrangements are in place for affected passengers.

Hong Kong society

Opinion | Hong Kong’s urban renewal plan must include best of the past

The city’s tong lau arcades, high-density blocks and webs of skywalks have long been telling us what a humane, climate-aware city can look like.

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People walk past “Blue House”, a four-storey tenement block on Stone Nullah Lane, Wan Chai, on August 29, 2024. Photo: May Tse
Hong Kong weather

Hong Kong issues amber rainstorm warning after intense heatwave grips city

Parts of New Territories record maximum temperature of 36.7 degrees by mid-afternoon on Friday, the hottest for 2026 so far.

Joggers on Kwun Tong Promenade on Friday. Photo: Edmond So
Climate change

Earth is hot and getting hotter: UN warns next 5 years likely to smash records

Climate agencies predict planet will experience a new hottest-ever year before 2031.

Accidents and disasters in China

Video | At least 9 dead, 11 missing amid severe flooding in central China

Chinese officials have issued a Level 4 flood alert for Hubei province and Chongqing.

Laos

5 of 7 villagers trapped in flooded Laos cave found alive

A Thai-led rescue team broke through to an area where they found the five villagers on a muddy ledge, but two others remain missing.

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A Thai-led rescue team broke through to an area in a flooded Laos cave where they found five of the seven missing villagers perched on a muddy ledge on Wednesday. Photo: Facebook / Thailand Rescue Diver
Laos

Video | Rescuers race to save miners in flooded Laos cave

Thai teams have joined the mission, as rescuers share photos of the treacherous conditions in the cave tunnel.

A rescuer navigates through a flooded cave in Xaysomboun province, Laos, where seven villagers mining for gold are trapped. Photo: Facebook/Thailand Rescue Diver
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Weather

Exceptionally early heatwave shatters records and brings deaths in Europe

Several drownings were reported in Britain and France as people tried to cool down.

India

Video | Indian heatwave sickens livestock ahead of Eid al-Adha

Although the festival of Eid al-Adha involves animal sacrifice, Islamic law explicitly forbids using sick livestock.

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Britain

‘Heat dome’ over Europe scorches UK, France, Italy and Spain

The continent is baking under unseasonal heat that is shattering spring temperature records.

People refill their water bottles from a fountain in Green Park, London on Monday. Photo: Reuters
Middle East

Muslims begin haj in sweltering heat and shadow of Middle East tensions

Over 1.5 million faithful gather as annual sacred rites in Mecca officially get under way.

Hong Kong weather

Editorial | First severe storm of the year shows city’s response can be improved

There were no serious injuries as the government response kicked in, but too many structural gaps remain.

Hong Kong weather

‘Soaking wet’: Hong Kong parents furious after last-minute rain warning change

‘I kept an eye on the weather all night, only for them to switch to an amber rainstorm warning at the last minute – you’ve got to be kidding me,’ one parent says.

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Videos and pictures circulating online show a double-decker ploughing through severe flooding. Photo: Threads/t_tsuntsun
United States

Thousands ordered to evacuate as Southern California wildfire threatens homes

Wind-driven Sandy Fire forces evacuations in Simi Valley, threatening properties.

The Sandy Fire approaching a neighbourhood in Simi Valley, California on Monday. Photo: AP
Hong Kong environmental issues

Editorial | Improved defences will help Hong Kong weather typhoon season

Having learned lessons from Ragasa, the government has published guidelines, prepared barriers and employed technology from drones to AI.

Aviation accidents

‘Miraculous’ rescue off US coast as 11 survive crash and 5-hour sea ordeal

Rescuers hoist final survivor into helicopter with just minutes of fuel remaining as a thunderstorm approached.

South Korea

South Korea adds ‘extreme heat emergency’ to first major alert update in decades

Over the past five years, the average number of heatwave days and tropical nights has surged nearly threefold compared to the 1970s.

Children play in a fountain at Gwanghwamun Plaza in Seoul on April 26. Photo: Yonhap/EPA
Climate change

‘Godzilla El Nino’: Southeast Asia warned of punishing climate whiplash

Experts warn the heat could increase the risk of localised flooding, put pressure on drainage systems and threaten agricultural production.

A man shields his face from the sunlight as he leaves a train station in Bangkok, Thailand, on April 29. Photo: AFP
Nepal

US climber dies in avalanche on Nepal’s Mount Makalu

Three Nepali guides and a Czech climber have died in the Himalayas so far this season.

India

Heat-triggered insurance offers cold cash cushion for India’s outdoor workers

India lost an estimated 247 billion hours of labour to extreme heat in 2024, equivalent to nearly US$194 billion in economic losses.

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