Tens of thousands in Hong Kong’s Tung Chung left without water supply after pipe bursts

Tens of thousands of residents, hospital patients and hotel guests in Hong Kong’s Tung Chung were gradually left without their water supply from 10pm on Sunday, with the government racing to fix a burst 1.2-metre diameter pipe.

The Water Supplies Department made an emergency announcement at 8pm on Sunday and dispatched water wagons and tanks to support residents of the Lantau Island new town. Both fresh and flushing water were affected.

At least 10 housing estates, both private and public, were affected along with North Lantau Hospital and hotels such as the upscale Sheraton Hong Kong Tung Chung Hotel, Four Points by Sheraton Hong Kong, Novotel Hong Kong Citygate and the Silveri Hong Kong-MGallery.

However, the water supply at Hong Kong airport and Discovery Bay remained normal.

The department said it expected the water supply to resume gradually on Monday morning. A water suspension notice on its website said the estimated time of resumption was 6am.

Water wagons and tanks would be sent to various housing estates, the hospital, Hei Tung Street, Pa Mei refuse collection point and the hotels.

The department said a “pipe operation incident” occurred at Cheung Tung Road near Siu Ho Wan Water Treatment Works on Lantau.