Typhoon Koinu spared Macau major damage and severe floods over the weekend but its rainbands are forecast to still bring squally showers to the city this week.
The Macau Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) lowered all tropical cyclone signals at 5 p.m. yesterday, as Koinu was moving south-westward at about 14 km/h across the western coast of Guangdong and expected to weaken gradually, the observatory said in a statement yesterday, which forecast squally showers to affect Macau this week.
The Typhoon Warning Signal No.8 had been hoisted at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. It was lowered to the Strong Storm Signal No.3 at 10 a.m. yesterday.
According to the Macau Civil Protection Operations Centre (COPC), 13 typhoon-related incidents and two injuries were reported during the time the No.8 signal was up, and a total of 31 enquiries were recorded, mainly concerning the weather, immigration clearance at border checkpoints, and bridge traffic.
No further information on the two injuries has been released.
According to the statement, the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) opened four emergency centres during the hoisting of the No.8 signal. A total of 13 people sought shelter at the centres. All centres closed at 10 a.m. yesterday.
The statement also said that the Public Security Police (PSP) had caught two cabbies for refusing passengers, four cases of illegal taxi fare bargaining, and seven cases of illegal taxis.
According to the observatory, as of 9 a.m. yesterday, cumulative rainfall of more than 100 mm was recorded in various districts, and precipitation of more than 200 mm was recorded in some areas of Taipa and Coloane.
According to the weather station, gales and winds recorded in Macau reached between 8 and 10 on the Beaufort scale, which ranges from 0 to 12. On the wind force scale, 8 indicates gales, 9 indicates strong or severe gales and a storm.
The observatory predicted that as Macau is still under the influence of Koinu’s rainbands, occasional squally showers and thunderstorms might occur, with winds ranging from strong to gusty.
The bureau reminded members of the public to stay alert to possible flooding caused by heavy rain and pay attention to the latest weather information before travelling.
Meanwhile, two firework shows of the 31st Macao International Fireworks Display Contest will be rescheduled to tomorrow at 9:00 p.m. and 9:40 p.m., which were originally slated to be held on Saturday, but initially postponed to yesterday due to Koinu, according to a Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) statement yesterday.
A Public Security Police (PSP) officer monitors traffic on the Macau side of the Macau-Taipa Friendship Bridge during Typhoon Signal No.8 on Sunday.
– Photo provided by COPC
