Red Cross maps HK's disaster hotspots, urges more community resilience

A new study by the Hong Kong Red Cross has found that more than 14 percent of Hong Kong's districts face very high disaster risk when it comes to typhoons, fires and extreme heat.

The organisation is urging the government to step up community resilience.

As extreme weather events become increasingly frequent, the Hong Kong Red Cross analysed 42 indicators, drawing on data from the Census and Statistics Department, the Hong Kong Observatory and population census records.

The study assessed the city's exposure to typhoons, extreme heat and fires, as well as each community's ability to respond.

It found that more than one in seven districts falls into the very high disaster risk category.

For typhoon risk, parts of the North District and Yuen Long, including Pat Heung and Sha Tau Kok, were identified as particularly vulnerable because they are located farther from temporary emergency shelters.

CEO & Secretary General, HK Red Cross ELEANOR LAM: "We are facing hotter summers and also more rain. It is the time that we look at the capacity and also risks of the city and to have people from different sectors and different backgrounds coming together to work together to cope with this changing climate and the changing needs of the community."

The report also identified Kowloon City, Sham Shui Po and Yau Tsim Mong as high fire-risk districts.

It estimates that more than 70 percent of Hong Kong residents did not take part in a fire drill over the past year, and calls on authorities to increase community fire safety exercises.

For extreme heat, the study found that the highest number of hot days was concentrated in parts of the northern New Territories.

San Tin and Kwu Tung recorded 103 hot days last year.

Meanwhile, parts of Kowloon were most affected by hot nights, with Hung Hom logging the highest tally at 54 hot nights.

The Red Cross is calling for more targeted heat adaptation policies tailored to different neighbourhoods.

The Hong Kong Red Cross also recommends increasing the frequency of fire drills in high fire-risk areas to boost community participation, while expanding the coverage of temporary typhoon shelters and continuously reviewing supporting measures and facilities.