At least three workers in Hong Kong got injured on Tuesday after a fence fell on them. They were reportedly trying to remove trees after Typhoon Mangkhut devastated the city.
The workers were among the over 8,000 workers deployed around the clock with the task of clearing the 1,500 trees toppled in the storm on Sunday. South China Morning Post reports that they were working on a slope near Regency Park private housing estate on Wah King Hill Road, Kwai Chung when the incident took place at around 10.50 am.
"Initial information showed a 1.5-metre-tall and 3-meter-wide fence fell on the workers when they were removing collapsed trees on the slope," a police source said.
He added that the three suffered minor injuries and were immediately taken conscious to Princess Margaret Hospital for treatment. The authorities are treating the case as an industrial accident. The Labour Department has been alerted, too.
The monster storm Mangkhut came to Hong Kong on Sunday, with the governing giving a typhoon signal No 10 and in forcing for 10 hours.
The storm was the most intense the city has faced in its history. The 1,500 toppled trees in Mangkhut's wake, along with other storm-related debris, have blocked more than 1,000 roads across the metro, Yahoo! News reports.
The extensive damage brought by the storm resulted in the suspension of all classes at all Hong Kong kindergartens, primary, and secondary schools for another day. The government is still working on some main roads, most of which are being targeted for clearance by Tuesday.
"Some schools will require time to clean up and repair their premises and facilities," the Education Bureau said in a statement. "In addition, public transport services have yet to be fully resumed."
However, it noted arrangements should be made for staff members to mind pupils with a genuine need to stay in a safe place within school premises, such as those whose parents lack childcare.
Meanwhile, Mable Chan, who is the Commissioner for Transport, announced that authorities would be aiming to get the city's most traveled roads cleared as soon as Tuesday morning.
"Our current goal is to get the clearing-up work done in most main routes by 5 am," she said.
Nevertheless, Chan noted that more time would be needed in order some routes in the North District and Sai Kung in the New Territories, including a number smaller roads in the city.
"We hope to get the clearing work done in the next one to two days."
