On This Day | When Typhoon Rose caused Hong Kong housing estate to collapse in 1971 – SCMP archive

As Super Typhoon Ragasa approaches Hong Kong, we take a look at SCMP’s coverage of some of the worst storms the city has experienced. Click here to read more.

Typhoon causes collapse in new housing estate

By Staff Reporter

This article was first published on August 17, 1971

The most powerful typhoon to strike for three years swirled through Hong Kong this morning, plunging Kowloon into blackness for more than two hours, causing houses to collapse and threatening extensive flooding in low-lying areas today.

Two flats on the 19th floor, Block 1, of Kwai Hing low-cost housing estate, New Territories, collapsed shortly after midnight injuring two people.

A clipping from SCMP’s August 17, 1971 front cover. Photo: SCMP
A clipping from SCMP’s August 17, 1971 front cover. Photo: SCMP

Shortly after 1.30am this morning, two more flats on the first floor of the same block collapsed. It was not immediately known if casualties resulted from the second collapse.

Residents of the whole block have been evacuated.

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