Strong Wind Signal No.3 was replaced by Tropical Storm Signal No.8NE at 10:30 p.m. last night, as Severe Tropical Storm “Ma-on” was expected to intensify further and approach the western coast of Guangdong quickly and be closest to Macau between early this morning and noon today, according to a statement on the Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau’s (SMG) website.
The observatory said that Ma-on was centred about 220 km southeast of Macau at 10 p.m. moving towards the west of the Pearl River Delta (PRD) last night.
According to the weather station, the probabilities of issuing Strong Storm Signal No.9 and the Red storm surge warning were “low” and “relatively low” respectively.
The observatory also said that under the impact of Ma-on’s outer rainbands, the weather today will be unsettled and that the winds were expected to intensify, reaching Force 7-9 with strong gusts and frequent thundery showers.
Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak addresses yesterday’s special press conference on the possible evacuation of low-lying areas during the expected storm surge, at the Civil Protection Operations Centre in Pac On in Taipa. – Photo courtesy of TDM
Govt launches storm surge evacuation plan for low-lying areas
Meanwhile, Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak said yesterday that the Orange storm surge warning came into effect at 8 p.m. yesterday, warning that flooding of up to 1.20 metres in low-lying areas was expected from 3 a.m. today, because of which the government launched its storm surge evacuation plan for residents in the city’s low-lying areas.
In response to the Orange storm surge warning, Wong said that the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) and the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) have opened 16 emergency shelters and four emergency assembly and pick-up points, while the Transport Bureau (DSAT) and the Macau Red Cross have arranged priority vehicles to pick up evacuees as quickly as possible.
Business owners install flood control barriers. – Photo: MPDG
Wong made the remarks at a special press conference on the “evacuation plan for low-lying areas in the event of a storm surge” during the passage of a typhoon”, at the Civil Protection Operations Centre in Pac On.
Wong underlined that this time the 16 emergency shelters could handle up to 12,000 people, compared with 24,000 normally. He said that due to the need for COVID-19 pandemic prevention measures, people must maintain social distancing at the shelters so the capacity of the shelters has been decreased by 50 percent. However, Wong said he believed that the number of places in the shelters is sufficient nevertheless.
Wong urged people living in coastal and low-lying areas to collect their personal belongings in advance, contact their relatives or friends and seek shelter in their homes if possible, or evacuate to the nearest safe place in an orderly manner according to police officers’ instructions at the scene. During the typhoon, Wong also urged people not to go to low-lying areas, especially underground car parks.
The Civil Protection Operations Centre will continue to monitor the development of Ma-on and release information in due course, Wong said, underlining that locals and tourists should closely monitor the latest weather information.
In addition, IAS President Wilson Hon Wai said at the same press conference that 199 workers have been assigned to be on duty at the shelters, all of whom had arrived when the shelters opened at 8 p.m. yesterday.
In anticipation of the approaching storm, shoppers buy food at a supermarket yesterday. – Photo: MPDG
Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng visits the Civil Protection Operations Centre in Pac On yesterday evening. – Photo courtesy of TDM
At the same time, he said, the Health Bureau (SSM) has deployed medical staff to provide medical services to the public in need at five emergency shelters, namely the Tap Seac Multisport Pavilion– Pavilion B, Salesiano Institute, the Chinese Technical-Professional School’s gymnasium, Olympic Sports Centre in Taipa, and Macau Flying Eagle Association in Coloane.
Moreover, Wong King, assistant to the Commissioner-General of the Unitary Police Service, said at the press conference that according to the latest information on the low-lying area screening system, the area comprises about 8,997 households and 3,109 potential evacuees, but the final number of people to be evacuated still needed to be counted depending on the actual situation.
In addition, DSAT Director Chang Cheong Hin said at the press conference that the bureau had contacted the city’s two bus companies to cooperate with the evacuation plan, adding that the two companies had already started to provide shuttle buses to help with the evacuation.
Chang also said that all low-lying carparks had been inspected, adding that after the Orange storm surge warning and Typhoon Signal No. 8 were issued, 23 low-lying carparks would be closed within 90 minutes.
Ma-on ‘not comparable’ to Hato
Meanwhile, SMG Deputy Director Tang Iu Man said that compared to Hato in 2017 and Mangkhut in 2018, which were a strong typhoon and super typhoon respectively, Ma-on yesterday was still a severe tropical storm whose winds were still not up to the typhoon level.
Tang made the remarks at a special press conference about Ma-on at the observatory on Big Taipa Hill.
Tang said that Ma-on was forecast to make landfall 100 km away from Macau.
At noon yesterday, Tang said, Ma-on was less powerful than Hato and Mangkhut. However, he added, if Ma-on keeps getting stronger, combined with the influence of astronomical tides, it could not be ruled out that the floods would reach the level of Typhoon Hagupit in 2008.
