The Judiciary Police have been preparing for the typhoon season by conducting inspections of low-lying areas of Macao, which are susceptible to flooding in severe weather. The site visits will be carried out until 8 March, according to an announcement.
Around 100 members of the law enforcement agency have been calling on residents and businesses in the area, assessing typhoon readiness and updating names and contact details in the event that evacuations are necessary during a storm.
Authorities conducted similar preparatory work prior to the start of typhoon season in previous years, but such measures were stepped up in the wake of Typhoon Hato in 2017, which resulted in three deaths, as well as financial losses estimated at around 11.47 billion patacas (US$1.42 billion).
[See more: Global climate change is behind the rise in severe typhoons]
The government is also trying to reduce flooding in the Inner Harbour area during severe weather through the construction of a rainwater pumping station. The two-phase project has resulted in road closures and traffic diversions that have stymied the flow of vehicles in the area.
Typhoon season in the Macao generally lasts from May to October, although the most severe cyclones normally hit the city between July and September.
In recent years, the frequency and severity of typhoons in Macao has increased, with the Metrological and Geophysical Bureau attributing it to climate change.
