Regular operations resume at South Horizons MTR station after burst pipe caused ankle-deep flood
Services running smoothly though lifts and escalators are not in use
Regular operations at South Horizons MTR station resumed at about 12.25am on Wednesday as the station reopened its doors after being closed for several hours due to a flooding incident caused by a burst water pipe.
After an overnight clean up, few signs of the floods remained, with Wednesday morning operations running smoothly in general except for the lifts and escalators, which remained out of service.
A convenience store in the station also stayed closed as some goods had been soaked, with staff busy cleaning up as of 8.30am.
Extra manpower was seen deployed at various exits and on the platform to direct the rush-hour crowds.
South Horizons resident Jonathan Wong said that he did not even know there had been a flooding incident the previous night.
“Everything was just fine – I know people like to complain, but really there was no problem at all,” he said.
MTR’s head of operating Francis Li Shing-kee explained that a pipe outside the station had burst on Tuesday, causing to five inches of flooding.
The problem persisted after all water taps inside the station were turned off, and was only resolved when a tap on the street was shut at about 9.30pm.
Asked about the station’s waterproof design and capability, Li said this varied by each station but promised to carry out a review and implement improvement measures in the future.
The flooding had prompted service on the recently opened South Island Line to terminate at Lei Tung station, with lower train frequencies.
Pictures circulated online by passengers showed ankle-deep water flooding the lobby and water raining down from the ceiling.
An MTR spokesman said water had leaked from the ceiling near exit B at South Horizons at about 8.45pm.
The station’s closure prompted the MTR to arrange alternative buses from Lei Tung station for passengers heading towards the South Horizons area – the last stop on the new South Island Line, which commenced services on December 28.
South Horizons resident Nick Tse said he went to catch the train from Wong Chuk Hang to the end of the line at about 9.50pm, but he was not alerted to the closure until he boarded the train.
He said he an announcement at Lei Tung station informed passengers of the alternative shuttle bus.
“There were not many people waiting for the buses. Only about 20 people on the one I took,” Tse said.
The Water Supplies Department said the private fresh water pipe, which provides water to parts of South Horizons estate, had been shut down by its workers.
In the meantime, two water trucks and eight tanks were sent to the affected areas.
