The downpour pushed the Shenzhen Municipal Meteorological Observatory to raise a yellow alert to orange in Bao’an District, the second-highest in a four-level warning system, at around 6:15 a.m.
The Chuangye Overpass area and Xixiang section of 107 National Highway in Bao’an District and Guanguang Road in Guangming New Area were seriously flooded. The traffic was disrupted and firefighters had to use inflatable rafts to evacuate people, Huang Hao, section chief of Shenzhen traffic police commanding center, said. Shenzhen traffic police responded to around 72 places that were flooded by rain. Shenzhen International Airport issued an orange alert for flight delays at 9 a.m, with over 1,000 flights being cancelled or delayed.
In Guangzhou, traffic was brought to a standstill on major roads as heavy downpours hit the Guangdong provincial capital. Changban Station on the city's Metro Line 6 was flooded, and passengers had to take off their shoes and wade to the platform. Many streets downtown were flooded, with water reaching more than 1 meter in some sections.
Shot of a Guangzhou tube entrance, taken by CCTV News