Macau government announced today that it is likely to hoist Sunday afternoon typhoon signal 10 – the highest category in the city’s six-level typhoon warning system.
At midnight Saturday typhoon Mangkhut, classified as a super typhoon, was at 470 km from Macau and was moving to the coast of Guangdong province.
Satellite images show that typhoon Mangkhut will affect Macau with maximum force around Sunday at noon.
According to a statement by the Macau Government Information Bureau typhoon signal 8 will be hoisted at 2 AM Sunday.
The Government’s civil protection system issue a “Red” storm surge warning in relation to rain storms when floodwater levels are likely to be 1.5 metres to 2.5 metres above road level.
The government evacuation plan for low-lying areas was activated meaning that approximately 21,000 people living in areas which are prone to serious flooding will be evacuated to safety.
A total of 282 people categorised as in particular need, will receive assistance from the police in relation to the evacuation.
Government’s network of 16 emergency shelters across Macao have been open. The centres have a capacity for an aggregate of 24,000 people.
Fifteen public car parks will be closed within an hour of the issuance of signal 8 tropical cyclone warning.
Meanwhile the government has made available, free of charge, more than 1,820 spaces for private vehicles and motorcycles. The spaces are located, respectively, in car parks of public departments, higher education institutes, public-sector schools and public housing estates.
Hotel resorts provide 2,270 spaces for private cars in order to fulfil public demand for safe parking during the typhoon period.
Hundreds of fishing boats look for a safe place in the Inner Harbour and the city traffic have been reduced.
The Macau population run Saturday to supermarkets to get food and water.
In August 2017 typhoon Hato hit Macau strongly killing several 10 people and causing and billions of dollars in damages.
