Macau was yesterday hit by its most rainy day since 1952 when precipitation records were officially launched by the local observatory, the Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) announced.
The weather station hoisted the first black rainstorm warning at 5 a.m. yesterday – for the first time since the implementation of its new rainstorm warning system last September.
According to the SMG website, the Fortaleza do Monte pluviometer (rain gauge) recorded a total precipitation for the day of 422.0 millimetres at around midnight, which is highest total precipitation recorded since 1952. An SMG statement also said that the same station recorded 119.6 millimetres per hour, which is the second highest hourly precipitation rate recorded since 1964. The statement also pointed out that many areas were flooded, and some low-lying areas recorded a 0.5 metre of flooding.
Another SMG statement said that a waterspout appeared on the waters near Ponte da Amizade (Friendship Bridge) yesterday afternoon. The statement said that the vortex formed at around 1 p.m. but it only lasted for a few minutes.
The bureau took down all rainstorm warnings at 11:20 p.m. yesterday.
Meanwhile, when asked about the severe flooding in the Inner Harbour area after a night of heavy rain, Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng said yesterday that the area’s newly installed pumping station is just beginning its operation therefore it “might not seem so effective” at the moment, adding that the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) has been looking into the situation and making the necessary adjustments.
Ho made the remarks on the sidelines of the Macau Grand Prix Museum’s opening ceremony he presided over.
During yesterday’s opening ceremony, Ho said that the rainwater pumping station only started operating last Friday, so as it was just beginning to operate therefore it may not appear to be so effective right away. He also said that the related bureau – IAM – has been making necessary adjustments for the upcoming rainy days. He pointed out that the rainstorm did not only affect Macau but also Zhuhai and other neighbouring cities.
When Ho was asked what he thought of the observatory’s forecast, he said that it had already forecast heavy rain the evening before it approached and swiftly announced that schools would be suspended due to the adverse weather conditions. He stressed that rainstorms are harder to predict than typhoons as there is a trail to follow.
Ho acknowledged that residents were worried that the Inner Harbour pumping station may not be ready for the typhoon season, pointing out that the city’s flooding problem during torrential rain is inevitable for its low-lying areas but the rainwater pumping station would still be necessary because it helps drain the water into the sea.
According to an IAM statement, the bureau had been constructing the Inner Harbour rainwater pumping station since 2019. The statement noted that the new pumping station will intercept rainwater between Avenida Almeida Riberiro and the Patane Municipal Market. The statement said that the rainwater will be drained into the newly built 2,200-cubic metre box culvert from where it will run into the Inner Harbour near Pier 25 and Pier 26 where the new EP 8 pumping station is located.
The statement noted that the size of the pumping station is 350 square metres which can pump a standard swimming pool amount of water in two minutes. The statement noted that the pumping station cost 110 million patacas.
Kindergartens, primary schools and special education schools were closed for the whole day, while secondary schools were only closed in the morning.
The torrential rain resulted in flooded roads, major traffic jams, several landslides and the temporary closure of the flooded underpass in Zape. Vehicular cross-border movement at the Barrier Gate checkpoint was also temporarily suspended due to floods in the area.
No injuries or major property damage were reported.
The low-lying Inner Harbour area was most affected by floods.
Residents holding umbrellas rush across the road outside Pui Ching Middle School during yesterday’s torrential rain.
A car drives round a flooded roundabout in Taipa yesterday. Photos: Iong Tat Choi
A waterspout is seen near Ponte da Amizade (Friendship Bridge) yesterday. Photo courtesy of TDM
