For the first time since the handover in 1999, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has been deployed on the streets of Macau. The local government requested help from the Central Government two days after Hato, the worst typhoon to hit in 53 years, cause havoc across Macau. 1,000 PLA troops are helping with the reconstruction of the city and rescue works.
The Chinese military forces have been stationed in Macau since the transfer of Macau’s administration from the Portuguese to the Chinese in 1999.
Number of deaths increases to nine
According to official data, the number of deaths has increased to 9. The 9th victim was male and was found inside a parking lot in the northern part of the city in the Fai Tat building.
The Fire Services Bureau is still working to clear parking lots in five buildings in Macau.
Water and electricity back in some areas
This morning, Macao Water finished repairing two water pumps at the Ilha Verde water treatment plant after 40 hours of work. According to Macao Water, everything should start functioning normally within the next two days.
The Mitra neighbourhood and some residents living next to Tap Seac still had no water this morning.
CEM, Macau’s electricity company restored a large number of their services this morning. The number of residents still without electricity stands at 5,500, down from 40,000 at the peak of the crises.
New typhoon on the way
According to the Hong Kong Observatory, the tropical storm Pakhar has developed in the Philippines Sea and is predicted to make landfall in Macau on Sunday as a severe tropical storm, a category lower than a typhoon.
