Welcome to our live coverage of Severe Tropical Storm Tapah. The no. 8 typhoon signal was raised in Macao at 9 pm last night and lowered to a no, 3 signal at 3 pm today. Schools and many businesses were closed and the city suffered major disruptions to transport.
For comprehensive information on what happens when a typhoon hits Macao, see our Ultimate Macao Typhoon Survival Guide.
Read on for live updates on Tapah as it passes close to Macao.
3.20 pm: Live coverage of Tapah ends
Thank you for joining us during our coverage of Tapah this morning and afternoon. With the lowering of the no. 8 signal we are ending our live reporting. Remember to check the rest of our website for all the latest happenings in Macao.
3:15 pm: Normality slowly returns as signal no. 8 lowered to signal no. 3
The SMG replaced the no. 8 typhoon signal with no. 3 at 3 pm, with Tapah heading further inland.
At 3 pm Tapah, which has weakened into a tropical storm, was estimated to be about 190 kilometres west-northwest of Macao and forecast to move inland in a north-northwest direction at around 18 kilometres per hour. Heavy showers and thunderstorms will persist in the SAR, however.
Bus services to Hong Kong are gradually resuming, as are ferry services. According to a government bulletin, additional sailings may be arranged to accommodate the expected backlog of passengers.
The Macao Bridge, the Friendship Bridge, the upper deck of the Sai Van Bridge, the Governador Nobre de Carvalho Bridge and the Lotus Bridge are now open for traffic. However, motorists are urged to be aware of crosswinds and slippery roads, and to drive safely.
As of 2 pm, there had been 81 cancelled flights, 29 delayed flights and 9 rescheduled flights at Macao airport. Flight operations will recommence gradually but travellers are advised to confirm the status of their flights before heading to the airport. The Civil Aviation Authority reminds passengers that “patience and cooperation during check-in are greatly appreciated.”
1:34 pm: Transport services prepare to resume
With Tapah weakening and moving further away from Macao, a number of transport services are preparing to resume when the no. 8 signal is lowered.
According to government bulletins, public bus services, special taxi services, the Light Rapid Transit, and the bus service connecting Macao and Hong Kong airport will be recommencing at 3 pm.
For details on the resumption of other services, residents and visitors should monitor the websites of the respective providers, including HZMB shuttle bus and ferry operators Turbojet and Cotai Water Jet.
12:21 pm: SMG confirms no. 3 signal will be issued at 3 pm
Local meteorologists will lower the no. 8 signal to a no. 3 signal at 3 pm today, as Tapah moves further inland and away from Macao. However, heavy showers and thunderstorms will persist, and winds in Macao will occasionally reach force 7 to 8 with strong gusts, the SMG says.
Transport services can be expected to slowly resume, but officials have issued warnings about congestion as commuters and other travellers flock to the city’s checkpoints, especially at Hengqin.
“The number of passengers using the Hengqin Port will gradually increase,” a government bulletin warns. “To avoid congestion, residents, passengers, and commuters are advised to stagger their arrival times in Macao [and] follow the guidance of the staff on the spot.”
12:01 pm: All storm surge warnings cancelled
With Tapah moving further inland, officials lowered all storm surge warnings at noon.
A yellow warning was issued last night, with the territory braced for floods of up to 1 metre above street level in low lying areas. The warning was lowered to blue at 10 am. The nine public car parks in low-lying areas that were closed with the onset of Tapah also resumed operations at 11 am.
11:41 am: Hong Kong to lower no. 8 signal in the early afternoon
Macao’s close neighbour will lower the no. 8 signal to a no. 3 signal at 1:10 pm. The city has also cancelled the amber rainstorm warning that was in effect for much of the morning.
“Tapah is moving into inland Guangdong and will depart from Hong Kong progressively,” the Hong Kong Observatory says in its latest bulletin. “Local winds are expected to weaken gradually.”
11:26 am: Civil Protection centre receives 20 incident reports
As of 11 am, the Civil Protection Operations Centre had received 20 incident reports, including 9 cases of downed trees, lamp posts and other structures, 10 cases of swinging or falling signage and other objects, and 1 report of a person trapped in a lift.
Minor flooding has been reported in low-lying areas in Taipa, including the area around Iec Long and Rua dos Hortelaos. However, with the threat of more severe flooding gradually receding, the 9 public car parks in low-lying areas that were closed with the onset of Tapah have now resumed operations.
A total 12 people have meanwhile sought refuge in government shelters.
11:12 am: The no. 8 Signal will remain hoisted until the mid afternoon
The latest bulletin from the SMG says “The signal no. 8 will remain in force before 3 pm today,” suggesting a possible lowering of the signal afterward.
Meteorologists advise that as of 11 am, Severe Tropical Storm Tapah was estimated to be about 120 kilometres west of Macao and is moving further inland in a north-northwest direction at 18 kilometres an hour.
11:05 am: Hospital, banking and government arrangements during a no. 8 typhoon
Government departments will remain shuttered while a signal no. 8 or higher typhoon signal is in force, the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau says. However, the Public Security Police, Fire Services Bureau, Judiciary Police, Macao Customs and Conde São Januario Hospital will continue to provide emergency services to residents.
The Macao Union Hospital asks that visitors use the emergency department entrance to access the hospital as long as the no 8 signal remains hoisted. In the interest of public safety, all other entrances have been closed off.
Kiang Wu Hospital has suspended operation of certain clinics.
The Macau Association of Banks has announced that banking institutions in the city will suspend operations this morning.
10:42 am: Tapah moving inland, Hong Kong to consider lowering signal
At 10 am, Severe Tropical Storm Tapah was estimated to be about 110 kilometres west-southwest of Macao and is forecast to move inland, heading north-northwest at around 18 kilometres an hour.
The SMG appears to have discounted the possibility of a higher storm signal being raised. No word as yet on when the no. 8 signal will be lowered in Macao, but in neighbouring Hong Kong meteorologists say the no. 8 signal will remain hoisted until at least 1 pm, and an assessment will be made in the afternoon on lowering the signal to no. 3.
10:27 am: CE takes leading role in civil protection
Civil protection measures in Macao during the passage of Tapah are being led from the top.
Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai chaired a working meeting at the Civil Protection Operations Centre last night to receive a briefing on the work under way in response to Tapah, and to gain a full understanding of how different government departments are responding to the storm.
The meeting was also attended by Wong Sio Chak, the secretary for security and commander of Joint Civil Protection Operations, Commissioner General Leong Man Cheong of the Unitary Police Service, and other top officials.
Sam said it was necessary to plan and be ready to deploy post-typhoon recovery measures so as to ensure swift restoration of normal life following the storm’s passage, minimising disruption to work and school schedules.
10:15 am: Yellow storm surge signal lowered to blue
With the threat of more severe flooding lessening, the SMG lowered the storm surge warning signal from yellow to blue at 10 am. However, flooding of up to 0.5 metres can still occur in low lying areas.
If you need on-the-ground assistance like water drainage or cleanup, the Municipal Affairs Bureau be contacted through its hotline: 2833 7676.
9:55 am: Person trapped in lift
The latest bulletin from the Civil Protection Operations Centre says 9 incident reports related to Tapah have been made so far in Macao, including 3 cases of downed trees or lamp posts, 5 cases of fallen objects and 1 person trapped in a lift.
Residents who need to report an emergency can dial 999, 110 or 112.
9:48 am: Neighbouring Hong Kong battens down the hatches
The Hong Kong Observatory has issued a no. 8 typhoon signal and an amber rainstorm warning as persistently heavy rain lashes Macao’s neighbouring SAR. Around 100 flights have been cancelled at Hong Kong airport.
9:37 am: Tapah makes landfall at Taishan
Tapah has made landfall in Taishan City, Guangdong, but according to the SMG the area of maximum wind force near its centre will continue to batter Macao for the next few hours, remaining at force 7 to 8. There will also be thunderstorms.
The combination of storm surges and astronomical high tide has meanwhile pushed the tide level to 3.7 metres this morning and flooding up to 0.5 metres is likely at the Inner Harbor area. A yellow storm surge warning is in force but will be lowered to blue when the tide level recedes.
9:31 am: Transport chaos
Tapah has caused severe disruption to transport. Public bus services in Macao remain suspended, as do bus services to and from Hong Kong.
Ferry services between Macao, Hong Kong, Shekou and Zhuhai were suspended last night, and the Shekou and Zhuhai sailings are unlikely to resume today.
You can get more information by visiting the respective websites of the HZMB shuttle bus and ferry operators Turbojet and Cotai Water Jet.
There have meanwhile been dozens of cancellations and rescheduled flights. The Civil Aviation Authority strongly urges passengers to check their new flight schedules with their respective airlines or through www.macau-airport.com or the hotline at +853 2886 1111 before going to the airport.
Motorists should meanwhile note that under current regulations, all four of the cross-sea bridges that link the peninsula with Taipa are closed when a signal no. 8 or higher typhoon is issued. The exception is the enclosed bottom deck of the Sai Van Bridge, which is open during a signal no. 8 to allow travel between the peninsula and the outer districts. However, in the event of a signal 9 or 10 typhoon, the bottom deck is closed as well.
9:07 am: Shelters are open
Macao’s emergency shelters are open for anyone in need. These are located at the Ilha Verde Refuge Centre, the Macao Federation of Trade Unions Workers Stadium (by the Praça das Portas do Cerco),the Taipa branch of the Taipa and Coloane Social Service Centre, and the Academy of Public Security Forces on Coloane.
As of 8 am, 6 people had sought refuge in the shelters, the government says.
8:30 am: Signal 8 and yellow storm surge warnings in force
Severe Tropical Storm Tapah is now estimated to be about 110 kilometres southwest of Macao and is forecast to move north-northwest at around 20 kilometres an hour towards the western coast of Guangdong. A signal 8 is in effect, but the Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (known as the SMG after its Portuguese initials SMG) says the chance of a higher signal being raised is low.
Meanwhile a yellow storm surge warning has been issued. This means that flooding of up to a metre above street level is expected in low lying areas, and will likely occur between 6 am and 1 pm. Residents likely to be affected are urged to take precautionary measures without delay.
